SECRETS WILL BE TOLD - 7/9/22 (Saturday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time)

Matthew 10:26

“Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known.”

For the full readings, click here: 

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/070822.cfm

For more information on the Optional Memorial of Saint Augustine Zhao Rong and Companions, click here:

https://mycatholic.life/saints/saints-of-the-liturgical-year/july-9---saint-augustine-zhao-rong-and-companions-martyrs/

For the examination of conscience and guide to confession, click here:

https://mycatholic.life/catholic-prayers/examination-of-conscience/

Blessed Saturday! All of us have an appointed time to die. We will meet the Lord at the moment of our death. If we die in the state of grace, we will see Him as our Merciful Savior. But, if a person dies in the state of mortal sin, he will see God as a Righteous Judge. All of us will face a particular judgment, the judgment immediately at our death. This is why we should persevere in holiness today to prepare for a holy death. At the same time, there will be a general judgment at the end of the age. This is the time when everything that we do will be revealed to everyone. 

The secrets will be told. What are the secrets in our hearts? This truth about the general judgment may be consoling to many or frightening to some depending on our state of life and holiness. If we are doing the will of God and always coming to Him despite our sins, we will not be embarrassed if people will see everything we do at the general judgment. Why? It's because the secret in their hearts is their love for God which will be manifested on the last day. And, even if everyone will see their sins, what we will recognize is the mercy of God that transforms the worst sinners to the greatest saints. 

However, the general judgment may be horrifying to some of us. Why is this the case? It's because deep within the hearts of some people lie the darkness of sins. Sometimes, we fall to the temptations of sin thinking that no one can see it anyway. We may have the tendency to belittle other people in our minds as if we are the only people who are aware of it. The truth is that God knows our thoughts, actions and words, and this will be revealed to everyone at the general judgment. People should also be cautious, most specially to the sins of lust. There are many who are tempted to lust over other people, especially in the internet, or find satisfaction in green minded jokes and inappropriate words. When many fall to sexual sins, including masturbation, contraception, adultery and many more, they are unaware that all of our actions will be judged by God and be manifested on the last day. 

The recognition of our faults and weaknesses should lead us to trust in God even more and not to despair. God loves us, and this is why He is giving us this day, many years, days, hours, minutes, seconds and moments to repent of our sins. He is waiting for us to come to His Infinite Mercy, especially in the sacrament of confession and the Mass. Let's turn away from our sins and persevere in doing what is good through our prayers. May we remember to pray the rosary with devotion every day. As we remember, in the "Hail Mary" prayer, we also tell our Mother, "pray for us, now and at the hour of our death." At the hour of our death, if we do everything to repent and follow God, we have an assurance that we have a loving Mother, Mary, who always prays for us and protects us. Let's offer everything to God, especially our hearts with complete dependence on Him. 

Amen +

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, be with us always until the hour of our death. Amen. +

 

May the Lord + bless us, protect us from all evil and bring us to everlasting life. Amen. +  

Reflection by: Dominic