The Deceitfulness of Silence

September 24: Wednesday of Week 25 of Ordinary Time, Year A-II:

Proverbs 30:5-9; Psalm 119:29, 72, 89, 101, 104, 163; Luke 9:1-6

What is Jesus saying to us as stewards of his kingship? (To support Reaching Jesus... Step Five).

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“Put falsehood and lying far from me” (Proverbs 30:8).

Jesus gives “power and authority over all demons and diseases,” not just to the Twelve, but to everyone he sends to “proclaim the Kingdom of God”—that is, to every person anointed in Baptism to continue his messianic mission on earth as “Prophet, Priest and King.”

We have “power” over the demons of entrenched cultural attitudes, policies and practices. We have “authority” to call for the cure of diseases that debilitate the influence of truth, love and justice in family and social life, business, parish ministry and politics.

Our power is the love that makes us speak out, sometimes at our peril. Our authority is the authority of truth that Jesus appealed to when he answered Pilate: “You say that I am a king… I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice” (John 18:37).

Paul wrote” “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

But how are they to call on one… whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him? (Romans 10:13).

How will society be saved from the demonic and destructive if no one has the courage to proclaim what everyone needs to hear?

“Silence gives consent.” Silence in the face of falsehood is lying.

PRAY: “Lord, falsehood I hate; your law I love.”

PRACTICE: Respond to every falsehood with truth.