We are sealed by the Holy Spirit: We belong to Christ.
The Greek word for “seal,” which Paul uses in today’s reading, is "sphragis". This word designates the tattoo, brand, or mark which ancients put on their slaves, sheep, and other property they owned to show that it belonged to them. Military officers placed a similar mark on soldiers under their command.
Thus, Clement of Alexander told second-century Christians to use doves (Holy Spirit), fish (Jesus), and ships (Church) as marks of ownership on their property, rather than swords and figures from mythology. The seal Paul refers to is the sign of the cross, which was placed on the foreheads of Christians when they were baptized. It was a sign that they now belonged to Christ.
Do we act as people who belong to Christ? “God himself . . .
has placed his mark of ownership upon us.” 1Cor 1:21-22
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When we can understand what hypocrisy really is, then we may also realize that it is not a private affair. Because the hypocrisy of the individual affects other people and it also distorts the opinion and impression of others. Hypocrisy not only comes in many disguises; it needs many disguises. For example, indifference or contempt may masquerade as innocence when we say "I don't know" Legality wears the makeup of legitimacy when it is stated that abortion is legal. Opportunism puts on the apparel of kindness to cover up ulterior motives and vested interests. But hypocrisy can only survive as long as there is fear.
Jesus tells us in today's gospel not to fear because fear causes anxiety and unrest. Fear also makes us blind and we can't see our self-worth before God, and it blocks us from receiving God's love. Let us offer our fears, our anxieties and worries to the Lord, so that what is covered will be uncovered and what is hidden will be made clear.
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Let us pray: Lord our God, we stand before you with empty hands. Our good intentions, the things we do are powerless to save us. God, help us to accept this truth, for it hurts our pride. Teach us to receive gratuitously your grace, your merciful love and also the help and love of our neighbor. Save us from ourselves and from sin by the grace of Jesus Christ our Lord.
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We should sing our thanks and praise to God, with a harp or lyre, or just our voices. I used to be a music minister. I really miss singing at Mass. I really miss going to Mass. I still sing at my house when I’m watching Mass on my tv, but I still miss it. And I love the song by Dan Schutte that is based on the psalm for today, “Like Cedars they Shall Stand.” It says, “I will greet the Lord with my song, I will sing of the ways of the Lord” and goes on, “To thank him for his love at dawn his faithfulness through night.” Even before I was Catholic I sang at church in my college choir and sang mass with my friends from school, so my very beginnings in the church I chose were praising God with my song. The music was what introduced me to the church and encouraged me to stay. I still feel most connected to God and to the church when I’m singing hymns.
These days there are a lot of hard things happening, and it can seem difficult to stay positive and to be grateful, but even in the midst of hardships there are still things to be thankful for. We can continue to praise God for the good things around us, “the Lord looks down he sees all.”
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Feast day October 16
Hedwig, the daughter of a 12th-century count, was educated in a monastery in Eastern Europe. At age 12, she married Henry I of Silesia, who was 18. In the 1200s, this was the usual age for marriage. The couple had seven children.
Henry succeeded his father to the throne. Henry depended on Hedwig to help him rule. In a war with Conrad of Masovia, Henry was captured. With rare courage, Hedwig persuaded Conrad to return her husband. The gentle queen was loved more for her kindness to those who were poor than for her political undertakings. She founded a hospital for lepers. The doors of her castle were open to travelers and to those who were homeless, sick, and dying. Hedwig went to the cottages of those who were poor, visiting and serving them. Late at night she would darn their clothes. Early in the morning, Hedwig would pray for the kingdom. She did all this while taking good care of her own family. Hedwig also invited religious to build monasteries in the kingdom.
Hedwig suffered when two of her sons disagreed over land given to them by Henry and went to war against each other. She bore this sorrow and the death of her son Henry with patience. The people of her kingdom considered her a living saint.
