Nothing Secret

When he went outside, the scribes and the Pharisees began to be very hostile towards him and to cross-examine him about many things, lying in wait for him, to catch him in something he might say. Meanwhile, when the crowd gathered in thousands, so that they trampled on one another, he began to speak first to his disciples, ‘Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees, that is, their hypocrisy. Nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known. Therefore whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be proclaimed from the housetops. ‘I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that can do nothing more. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him! Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten in God’s sight. But even the hairs of your head are all counted. Do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows. ‘And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before others, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God; but whoever denies me before others will be denied before the angels of God. And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven; but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. When they bring you before the synagogues, the rulers, and the authorities, do not worry about how you are to defend yourselves or what you are to say; for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that very hour what you ought to say.’ Luke 11:53-12:12

We are in the final days of an intense midterm election season here in the US. Attack ads are everywhere making all sorts of unjustified claims just to undermine an opponent. I keep wondering how we can tell our young to be kind and not bully others when all the adults seem to be best at cruelty and 

bullying. Whatever happens next Tuesday, we will all still have to live with the consequences of bad behavior pretending to be justified. Some even claim that God is on their side, although we know that throughout all scripture, only the faithful, justice seeking, truthtellers are considered belonging to God. All of our makeup, our rhetoric, our pretenses are transparent to the living God.

Gracious Creator, you plant us among the wise as we grow

who teach us by behavior and service about your love

and who call us to be honest, just and compassionate people.

Too often, we forget the lessons and models of our youth

and take on a fighting stance attacking with great cruelty

despite the fact we each have so much to keep hidden away.

Lord Jesus, look on us all today with your loving gaze

and help us to put aside all pretense and come clean to you

so our lives might be dedicated to your love, service and justice alone. Amen.