Memorial of Saint Pius of Pietrelcina, Priest

Lectionary: 449

For there is nothing hidden that will not become visible, and nothing secret that will not be known and come to light.
Take care, then, how you hear. To anyone who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he seems to have will be taken away.”




A recent article in the New Yorker Magazine (Sept 16, 2013) reports a new wrinkle in mental illness. While most psychiatrists today generally ignore the fantastic delusions of their patients, preferring to treat their chemical imbalance, some have notice a "Truman Show" phenomenon. 

Some mentally ill people think they are being watched continually by a fascinated television audience. Everywhere they go they spot cameras and hidden microphones. They interact with people around them as if they are "co-stars" of their own reality show. Some hear voices directing them as actors because, like the Manchurian Candidate, microchips have been implanted in their brains. 

When first graders carry cell phone cameras and police are routinely caught on camera subduing hopped-up perpetrators, when cameras overlook highways, intersections and supermarket aisles, when an entire nation watches two men plant pressure cooker bombs and tracks them down within four hours, "Truman" fantasies are not entirely implausible. Someone may be watching you all the time.

Silent Auction

As Jaques said in Shakespeare's As You Like It:

"All the world's a stage,And all the men and women merely players. They have their exits and their entrances...

Speaking of Shakespeare, remember the shock and horror of King Claudius in Shakespeare's Hamlet. He saw himself depicted on stage as the murderer of his brother, King Hamlet. He never supposed he might be the subject of a reality show within his own castle. 

"Truman" illusions remind us of Jesus' prophetic remarks. Good will be rewarded and wickedness, punished. It matters not whether any other human sees; the One who judges sees everything. 

The truth is, our sins are always public. Does anyone suppose her prayers should make a difference but her sins should not?  Even the most private deeds have repercussions beyond our reach and far beyond our control. Attitudes formed in the darkness of the movie theater or the privacy of one's home ripple outward into our relations with friends and strangers. Angry moods radiate on highways under the pressure of brake and gas pedals. Wherever we go, we meet ourselves in the responses of others. 

Jesus tells us our Father is watching. He "sees you when you're sleeping and knows when you're awake. He knows if you been bad or good so be good for goodness sake!" 

We hope the Merciful Judge understands our uncertainties and makes right our wrongs. We invoke the guidance of the Holy Spirit in all our decisions and actions. Devout Christians invite the watchful eyes of our Mother Mary and our patron saints. 

Christians want God's watchful care. We want to feel his reassuring, guiding hand on our shoulders as we navigate the world around us. We are grateful even for his occasional word of rebuke. We do not ask God to ignore our sins but to forgive them. 

We suffer no illusions of grandiosity but look forward to that day when all the world will join us in praising our all seeing, all Good God.