Saintly Sips
with Deacon Ken

Although I read this book some time ago, I had a random thought about the book, 'The Mask of Masculinity" by Lewis Howes. In the book, Howes outlines nine "masks" that society gives men to hind behind: stoic, athlete, material, sexual aggressive, joke, invincible, know-it-all, and alpha. All of these "masks" hides the true self, the self that hides their vulnerability and true self.

 

I was thinking that it is not just men who wear masks to hide behind. We all hide behind masks at times. We have our "work mask," our "gym mask," our "mom and dad mask," our "husband/wife mask," our "going out with friends mask," just to list a few.

 

The challenge, is that our society would rather us all keep our masks on. To act as society says we ought to act, say what society says we ought to say (and how we ought to say it), and also, what we ought not to do or say!

 

At work, we ought to be that Catholic example of morality rooted in solid ethics, at the gym, we ought to be friendly and polite and not put on the mask of vulgar language, as husbands and wives, we ought to be loving and compassion with our spouse to whom we are one with. As fathers and mothers, we ought to show love, patience and kindness while admonishing our children with forgiveness and mercy. When we are out with our friends, we ought not to conform with anything that will tempt us but wear your Catholic faith on your sleeve!

 

We are called to be heralds of the Gospel to all the world, bringing the Light of Christ to those in darkness. We can only do it if we take our masks off, be transparent and let the love of God shine through us.

 

God Bless you all,

Deacon Ken