set free in the open (ps 18:20)
"What you have whispered in locked rooms will be proclaimed from the rooftops." —Luke 12:3
"From heaven the Lord looks down" (Ps 33:13). Does He look down as a cosmic Big Brother, waiting for the chance to shout our sins and failures from the rooftops (Lk 12:3)? Jesus took our shame upon Himself. He was shamed as He was crucified naked in public, dying the shameful death of a criminal.
The Lord loves us so intimately that He is interested in everything about us. Because He is present within us (see Jn 6:56; 17:23), He loves us completely and even cares about the smallest thing in our lives (see Lk 12:6-8).
Therefore, give the Lord all of your life — all your heart, mind, soul, and strength (see Lk 10:27). Give Him your weaknesses and strengths, your failings, frustrations, anxieties — all of it. "Do not be afraid" (Lk 12:4) that God is a virtual Big Brother spying on you to expose you and humble you. That is what Satan tries to do, not God. The Lord is compassionate and merciful (Ps 103:8). He wants to raise you up and transform you into His abundant, healed life of fruitful, powerful service. He knows your most intimate secrets, but He plans to use His knowledge of those secrets to transform and call you (see Jn 1:48-51), not to shame and expose you. In fact, it may be you yourself doing the proclaiming from the housetops as you share your testimony and witness to the mercy of Jesus in your life.
Prayer: Father, "set me free in the open" (Ps 18:20) to worship and praise You with no fear whatsoever.
Promise: "The hairs of your head are counted! Fear nothing, then. You are worth more than a flock of sparrows." —Lk 12:7
Praise: St. John and his companions suffered many tortures and gave their lives for Native Americans.
Reference: (This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.)
Rescript: †Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, May 3, 2018
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