Exposed

In the Gospel of John we read: “For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come toward the light, so that his works might not be exposed.”  (John 3)

Now, it may seem as though people don’t like their imperfections, their faults, their failures, their sins to be brought out into the light because of what others may think.  And that’s probably true to some extent, but I don’t think that’s the primary reason.  No, I think that bringing the ugly stuff about us into the light is actually too painful and shameful - for us to deal with.  That’s right, for us. 

One example of this is reflected in the lack of long lines at the confessional.  I’m convinced that people often stay away from the Sacrament of Reconciliation not because of what the priest may think about whatever the person may or may not have done, but rather because of the difficulty most of us have in being required to actually acknowledge and name the things we are not proud of. 

That’s when we can no longer ignore them.  That’s when we can no longer pretend they don’t exist.  That’s when we can no longer rationalize them or make excuses for them.  No, once we bring our sins into the light it just seems as though they sort of become more real.  And that’s tough to deal with.

Looking at ourselves in an honest way is not as easy as it sounds. 

How many of us feel that our strained or broken relationships are mostly the fault of the other person? 

How many of us are waiting for someone else to apologize first? 

How many of us are convinced that the wrong we do really isn’t that bad and doesn’t actually cause that much hurt? 

How many of us are convinced that if everyone else were more like us, the world would be a better place? 

And how many of us can’t admit that there are things about us that should change, that can change, that must change?

In many ways Lent isn’t so much about “analyzing” and “figuring out” our lives as it is about illuminating our most authentic selves - good and bad, the things we are proud of, and the things we’d do differently if we had a second chance. 

May all our Lenten prayers and practices truly help us to refocus everything in our life toward doing the will of the Lord, so that come Easter, we might indeed find we are on our way toward the Father's Kingdom of true and lasting peace.