In recent times, we have seen certain people or certain leaders doing nasty or naughty things and then trying to find ways and means to hide their actions. Some of such persons and leaders even resort to twisting and manipulating the laws of the country to try and protect themselves by persecuting those who are trying to expose them, or those who are trying to uphold the truth and what is right. Such persons, whom we sometimes call “whistleblowers,” end up being silenced; some end up being imprisoned; and some even end up dead. But how long can these persons or leaders continue their charade? One day, their deeds and crimes will be exposed, either in this life or in the hereafter. If any of us are like such persons or leaders, would we stubbornly continue to try and hide, thinking we could continue as normal? Or would we rather change our ways and make amends with God and with others before it is too late?
In today’s Gospel, we read: “though the light has come into the world men have shown they prefer darkness to the light because their deeds were evil. And indeed, everybody who does wrong hates the light and avoids it, for fear his actions should be exposed; but the man who lives by the truth comes out into the light, so that it may be plainly seen that what he does is done in God.” A person could try to hide evil deeds, corruption and other misdeeds, but one cannot hide indefinitely. Even if one thinks one could hide from others, such despicable acts or deeds would eventually become known by others, especially since information can spread so quickly and so easily in various ways these days. Moreover, such persons cannot hide from God, since all a person has done or failed to do would be presented when the time for God’s judgement comes. Are we going to lose our eternal life, just to save face only for a short moment here on earth?