The Catholic Calendar for Friday, October 14, 2005
Friday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time
St. Callistus I, pope and martyr

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Romans 4:1-8
Psalm 32:1-2, 5, 11
Luke 12:1-7

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

"Whatever is said in darkness will be heard in the light. . ."

In the Epistle of James we are warned to bridle the tongue, the cause of much evil. We are told to keep a watch over what we say because we speak out of the fullness of our hearts. Idle words and hurtful words are reflective of the state of our hearts.

Here Jesus tells us that what is spoken in darkness will be heard in the light, proclaimed from the housetops. What is the practical meaning of this? Well, if James tells us to bridle our tongues, he does not mean merely when we are talking to others, but when we are talking to ourselves as well. We are not to bear false witness even in the privacy of our own heads. We are not to "speak" ill of anyone by words or by thoughts. We are not allowed the luxury of silent lips and active mind. What we speak in the darkness of our own minds will be heard aloud. How many times do we think something that, if we were to hear it aloud, we would be absolutely mortified?

This is what Jesus cautions us against. How can we take such extreme measure? How can we keep so close a watch over what we say? Really, it is very easy when our focus is right. Why would we want to say anything at all about other people (save good things) if our focus is on loving God? Why would we worry about what is said in darkness if Christ is our Light? If we follow Jesus' admonition, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness," then we’ll find little cause to clamp down on stray thoughts, because all of our thoughts will belong to Him.

May it be so for all of us.

- JuandelaCruz