Exhortation to Fearless Confession

In today’s gospel Jesus warns against the hypocrisy of the Pharisees. We have to speak the truth without worrying about what people think of us. Here hypocrisy is attributed to those who are always trying to be diplomatic, and whose primary concern is not to lose friends of this world. He taught his disciples that they must practice what they preach.  Their example, for good or for bad, will permeate the community in the same way that leaven permeates dough. At the last judgment, all our thoughts and acts will be made known, and we will be judged accordingly. The point is to preserve our heart from darkness. That is why the genuine believer does not need to be afraid of those who can kill a person (the exterior), but are unable to do so when it comes to the Judgment day. One should rather fear God’s judgment and the fires of hell. Jesus calls us to have courage in the face of trails & persecution.  If God watches over the least of his creatures, he will care all the more for human persons, who were given dominion over all other creatures and made in his image and likeness. 

Nothing is hidden to God and no suffering goes unnoticed by him. Christian martyrs can therefore look beyond the afflictions of this life to God’s vindication and eternal reward.