Jamaine Punzalan

Article (news)

A Word on the Word

Fr. Raymund Benedict "RB" Hizon, SJ

<p>Many, many years ago, in my youth, I went to see one of our Jesuit chaplains at school. I was completely overwhelmed. I sat there and just vented all my juvenile woes—everything felt like it was going wrong. My grades were slipping, things at home were difficult, and the pressure felt suffocating. I felt utterly, completely lost. </p><p>The chaplain listened quietly. Then, he looked at me and said words that hit me straight in the heart—words I remember to this day: </p><p>&quot;You know, RB... only at night, when it gets very, very, very dark... can one see the stars.&quot; </p><p>Those words stayed with me because they changed my perspective entirely. You see, up until that moment, I was so centered on my own woes that I completely missed the people who were actually there with me. I couldn’t see or appreciate their support through the fog of my own anxiety. </p><p>But that night, I stopped staring at my problems as endpoints. I started seeing things more clearly. And right there, in the middle of the mess, I found hope. I found some measure of peace. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>The Darkness is Real </strong></div><div> </div><p>I remember those words today because, if we look around us, it feels like a heavy cloud hangs over our country. We open the news and we are greeted by a glaring, anxious darkness. We see deep, unsettling fractures in our national leadership as the Senate prepares for an<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/19/sara-duterte-s-impeachment-trial-to-start-july-6-house-prosecutor-says-1701"> impeachment trial</a>. We find accusations and bitterness left and right. The <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2026/6/18/bsp-hikes-benchmark-rate-amid-high-inflation-1445">price of basic commodities </a>remains at an all-time high. And even the weather outside mirrors our mood—with yet another cyclone threatening our borders, bringing the gray, <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/weather-traffic/2026/6/21/severe-tropical-storm-francisco-to-bring-scattered-rains-0813">heavy habagat rains. </a></p><p>When the news is this loud, fear comes naturally. </p><p>We begin to look at the darkness and believe a false narrative: that evil is winning, that we are forgotten, and that we have to protect ourselves at all costs. We wear masks of competence, success, and strength just to survive the glare of scrutiny—hiding how fragile we actually feel and truly are, underneath. </p><p>And it is into this exact space of hidden vulnerability that Jesus speaks in today’s Gospel: </p><p>&quot;Fear no one. Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known.&quot; </p><p>I used to read that verse with a sense of dread. I thought Jesus was threatening to expose all my flaws and shortcomings on a massive screen for public shame. </p><p>In our current culture, we are so used to &quot;revealing the truth&quot; meaning a political scandal, a leaked recording, or a social media takedown. We watch public figures spin narratives just to keep their armor intact.</p><p>But when Jesus talks about the truth being revealed, He is not talking about exposure. He is talking about liberation. About freedom. </p><div> </div><div><strong>Light in Darkness</strong></div><div><strong> </strong></div><p>The Lord is telling us what we already know but are not quite sure how to receive: Everything is known to God. God knows you—deeply, truly, and lovingly. The ultimate truth about you is not how flawed you are, but how deeply loved you are! </p><p>Dropping the mask before God doesn&#x27;t bring destruction; it brings the profound relief of being fully known. It means trusting that whatever wrong we have done, or whatever good we failed to do, God saves us.</p><p>Jesus then breaks down our defensive walls by pointing to the sparrows—the most ordinary, fragile, seemingly insignificant creatures, sold for very little in the market. He says, &quot;Not one of them falls to the ground without your Father’s knowledge.&quot; </p><p>Notice what the Lord does not say. He does not promise that no sparrows will ever fall. He doesn&#x27;t promise that storms will never come, or that we will never experience seasons of deep national or personal anxiety. </p><p>What he promises is that when the sparrow falls, it does not fall outside the gaze and the care of the Father. God weeps for the sparrow. </p><p>And then he adds, so tenderly: &quot;Even all the hairs of your head are counted. So, do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.&quot; </p><div> </div><div><strong>Stepping Into the Light</strong></div><div><strong> </strong></div><p>The truth revealed in the dark is that you are not alone. God knows what you dread. He knows the weight you carry when you turn off the lights at night and the glare of the day finally fades. So when the Lord calls us to acknowledge him before others, He is asking us to live out this truth in action. </p><p>We acknowledge the Lord when we refuse to join the chorus of bitterness, lies, and political convenience. We live out of a quiet confidence that our ultimate security does not come from the false, fragile structures of this world, but from the truth we are less afraid to face. </p><p>As we gather around the altar today, let us look honestly at the areas in our lives, and in our country, where it feels &quot;very, very dark.&quot; Let us not be blinded by the glare of our own arrogance and self-reliance. Let us remove the masks we wear to convince the world we are fine or great. </p><p>When the world tells us to live in fear and deception, may we have the courage to trust the Lord—who knows and tells the truth; who lived, died, and lives anew to set us free. Amen. </p><div> </div><div><strong>Reflection Questions </strong></div><div> </div><p>As you look at the heavy clouds hanging over our country and your own life—the political fractures, the economic anxieties, or personal storms—what is the particular fear that is loudest in your heart? Can you find the courage to sit quietly with it, trusting that God&#x27;s grace may yet shine in the dark?  </p><p>What is the &quot;glare&quot; or mask of strength and competence you are most exhausted from holding up to the world? What transforms in you when you realize that dropping this mask before the Lord brings profound relief and radical love, rather than public exposure or shame? </p><p>Acknowledging Jesus means refusing to hide behind false masks, passive detachment or cynical bitterness. In your family, your workplace, or your community, what is one concrete, perhaps uncomfortable choice you can make to stand up for what is true and step into real solidarity with those who suffer? </p>

<p>The Lord is telling us what we already know but are not quite sure how to receive: Everything is known to God. God knows you—deeply, truly, and lovingly.</p>

The Lord is telling us what we already know but are not quite sure how to receive: Everything is known to God. God knows you—deeply, truly, and lovingly.

A Word on the Word: Becoming less afraid of the dark

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

People, Culture, and Events

A Word on the Word: Becoming less afraid of the dark

Fr. Raymund Benedict "RB" Hizon,

SJ

Published June 21, 2026 11:05 AM PHT

Read More:

Word on the Word

Sunday reflection

Bible study

Gospel

ABS-CBN Newsletter

Your go-to source for the latest news, entertainment highlights, exclusive interviews, and updates on your favorite Kapamilya stars.

ABS-CBN Newsletter

Your go-to source for the latest news, entertainment highlights, exclusive interviews, and updates on your favorite Kapamilya stars.

Sign Up

I have read and agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy.

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.