Breaking the Silence

I wonder, is it possible to keep anything we do secret?

But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him. When Jesus became aware of this, he departed. Many crowds followed him, and he cured all of them, and he ordered them not to make him known. - Matthew 12:14-16

In today's reading, Jesus orders the crowd to keep a secret.  Don't tell anyone what you saw me do here today.

Obviously that didn't work, since we know about it.

So, if it didn't work then, how could it work today, when so much of what we do is captured and displayed for the world to see, whether we realize it or not?

We live in a time when people seem to be doing just the opposite.  Instead of trying to keep things hidden and private, they are broadcasting the best and worst of what they do for all to see.

Yesterday's attack on a special needs teenager in Chicago is a perfect example.

The attack was streamed live on Facebook and unfortunately, it probably won't be the last time something so heinous will be shown live.

The world may not be getting nastier and more violent, but those who do these things and those who capture them on video are not keeping them quiet, and that is getting noticed by everyone.

Some would say that is a good thing, but I wonder if it is sending the wrong message.  If all we see are examples of our hatred toward each other, how will that shape our thinking, and what will it incite in us?

We react to what we see and hear, and that could be a problem, if all we see and hear is evil.

I think we have kept quiet too long.  We need to share some Good News to counter all that is streaming at us.  So, perhaps it is time to ignore the order to keep silent and start spreading the news that God loves us, wants to be with us, and gave of himself for us.

Will we make a difference?

It can't hurt.

More to come...