All Will Be Revealed

A somewhat alarming passage is found in St Luke’s Gospel:

No one after lighting a lamp covers it with a vessel, or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a stand, that those who enter may see the light.  For nothing is hidden that shall not be made manifest, nor anything secret that shall not be known and come to light.  Take heed then, how you hear; for to him who has will more be given, and from him who has not, even what he thinks that he has will be taken away (St Luke 8: 16 – 18).

Elsewhere, in St Matthew’s Gospel we read again of light: 

You are the light of the world.  A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.  Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it give light to all in the house.  Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven (St Matthew 5:  14 – 16).

These verses from St Matthews Gospel informs us that we are the light of the world, as is Christ the Light of the world.  As he is in us and we in him — so are both true.  We are to manifest his light by our good works so that God will be glorified by those who observe them.  So we are to live as Christians.

But the alarm given to us is found in St Luke’s words.  For nothing is hidden that shall not be made manifest, nor anything secret that shall not be known and come to light.  All will be revealed for all is known by God.  Our Lord also tells us that what is said in secret will be shouted from the rooftops.

The text also holds this:

Take heed then, how you hear; for to him who has will more be given, and from him who has not, even what he thinks that he has will be taken away.

How we hear what we hear refers to how we hear the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Do we hear, but do not put into practice?  Do we know, but not stubbornly not act accordingly?  St James gives these words to us:

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.  For if any one is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who observes his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself and goes away and at once forgets what he looks like.  But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer that forgets but a doer that acts, he shall be blessed in his doing (St James 1: 22 – 25).

St James instructs us to do the will of Christ — to act positively upon God’s words, and put into practice those works that show Christ’s light — and our light — to the world.  But what about those temptations to ignore, disobey, and then enter into sin?

I will give my illustration of “The Bubble.”  This illustration is about the control of our thoughts, especially thoughts that would bring us into error and sin if acted upon.  Thoughts are extremely import because thoughts determine outcomes.  Thus, they determine reality.  Let’s say there is a pond with over hanging trees.  Every autumn the leaves fall from the numerous branches and settle to the pond’s bottom.  There the leaves decay.  This process will often release a bubble of gas which rises to the surface.  Such a bubble is a thought that could lead to temptation, or some random memory which, if acted upon would lead us into sin.  At this point of awareness there is no error, no sin.  But, when the “bubble” rises to our consciousness we have two options:  we can allow the “bubble” with its stench to reside on the surface of our consciousness and interact with it.  When acted upon, the thought draws us into sin. Or, we can pop the “bubble” and be victorious and advance in our faith.

We will all stand before Christ in judgment in the Last Day.  What we have done — good and ill — will be revealed.  In our time in this life we must act by faith in holy ways that correspond to the will of Christ.  Acting faithfully in this manner will bring us  welcome into his Kingdom.  This battle between our Lord’s will and our own carnal will takes place in the mind.  We read this exerpt from the Prayer of the Hours:  “…Set aright our minds; cleanse our thoughts.”  This petition sums things up quite well — yes the battle is in the mind.

Jesus Christ conquers

Let me inform you of a particular challenge for me.  I can be quite impatient in a check out line in any retail setting, especially with someone who is young.  If this impatience is expressed to the employee I have sinned.  Therefore, I must determine in advance how I will interact with this person.  Will I bless this person who bears the image of God, or will I be an ass?  I must choose to be a blessing for her or him, and I generally utter these words from Psalm 38 (37): 22:  “Make haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation”.  If the “bubble” of impatience arises to the surface of my consciousness I must pop it and be victorious according to our Lord’s will.  I, too, must rejoice in this encounter.  I must pray for this person, and give thanks for this person and this interaction (see 1Thes 5: 16 – 18).

So, determine in advance what you will do, or not do, in any given situation and with any inappropriate, tempting thought.  Determine not to say, speak, or do evil.  Be determined to bless with word and action, and what is illumined will bring glory to God and not shame to our souls.

In Christ,

Fr Irenaeus