Living Without Masks

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

A psychologist once said that every person wears three masks. The first mask is the one we show the world. The second mask is the one we show only to a few people. The third mask is the one we try to hide even from ourselves. Whether or not that theory is completely true, it points to something real: we spend a lot of our lives managing appearances. We want people to think we’re strong when we’re afraid. We want people to think we’re successful when we’re struggling. We want people to think we’re holy when we’re really not.

And that is why Jesus’ words in today’s Gospel are so striking: “Do not be afraid.” Three times in this Gospel, Jesus repeats those words. Why? Because fear makes us hide. Jeremiah knew that fear. In the first reading, he is surrounded by people waiting for him to fail. They whisper against him. They watch his every move. Yet Jeremiah refuses to hide because he knows the Lord is with him. In the second reading, St. Paul speaks about something even deeper. Through Adam, sin entered the world. Ever since then, humanity has been hiding from God. The first thing Adam and Eve did after sinning was not attack God, it was hide from Him. Fear always pushes us into hiding.

But Jesus came to reverse that story. The Gospel is not merely the story of forgiven sinners. It is the story of people who no longer need to hide. Think about it. Jesus knows everything about you. The things others know. The things only you know. Even the things you don’t fully understand about yourself. And still He loves you. That changes everything. When you know you are loved by God, you stop living for appearances. You stop needing everyone’s approval. You stop pretending. You stop hiding.

The saints were not fearless because they were strong. They were fearless because they knew whose they were. The world says, “Protect your image.” Jesus says, “You are already known.” The world says, “Hide your weakness.” Jesus says, “Bring it into the light.” The world says, “Be afraid of what people think.” Jesus says, “You are worth more than many sparrows.”

Maybe that is the thread connecting all three readings today: fear makes us hide, but grace gives us the courage to be seen. So how do we live this Gospel?

First, Stop Hiding From God.

Bring Him the part of your life you avoid in prayer. The wound, the addiction, the resentment, the doubt. He already knows. Prayer begins where pretending ends.

Second, Stop Living for The Approval Of Others.

Most of the people whose opinions we fear are busy worrying about what others think of them. Don’t surrender your peace to human approval.

Third, Publicly Belong To Christ.

Jesus says, “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will acknowledge before my Father.” Faith was never meant to be private. Let people know by your words, choices, and most importantly your love that you are His disciple.

At the end of life, the question will not be how impressive we appeared. The question will be whether we trusted God enough to step out from behind our masks and live as His beloved sons and daughters.

Because the opposite of fear is not courage. The opposite of fear is trust. And trust allows us to live in the light.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, So often I hide behind fear, pride, and the opinions of others. You know me completely, yet You love me completely. Give me the courage to step into Your light. Help me stop pretending and start trusting. Teach me to live openly as Your disciple, unafraid of the world because I am secure in Your love. Amen.

– Homily by Rev Fr Patrick Agbeko