When You are Being Tried, Know that You are Being Purified (Saturday, Week 14, Year II)

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A gold refinery receives the raw/crude gold – commonly known as the gold ore – (mixed with impurities such as rock, scraps, and so on) and re-liquefies it by exposing it to a very hot furnace (intense fire and heat); and then various chemicals are added to the molten substance in order to separate the pure gold from the impurities. From the above illustration vis-à-vis the readings of today, few things are clear:

1. In order to be purified, a piece of raw gold must be exposed to intense fire and heat. We can’t attain holiness (purity) by clinging to our old selves of sin (moral impurities). In the first reading (Isaiah 6:1-8), Isaiah had a vision of being exposed to the fiery and awe-inspiring holiness of God. Just as a piece of raw gold, Isaiah a man of unclean lips was purified by that fiery presence. Such an encounter teaches us that “the more exposed we are to God and His precepts, the more purified we should become if we are very sincere with ourselves”. 

2. For the already molten gold ore to be fully and finally purified, some chemicals will be added which obviously brings about the displacement and separation of those impurities that have been shaken and weakened by the fire and heat of the furnace. When we come in contact with the fire of God’s holiness and word, our vices (those impurities of sin) are weakened and finally displaced by the virtues of righteous living.

3. But one thing is certain: our exposure to God and subsequent purification for a more virtuous living will surely attract persecutions and hatred from those whose lives are challenged by ours. But we have a word of hope and strength from Christ that “we should not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul…” (Matt. 10:28). Again, as we learnt yesterday, Christ encourages us to endure because “the one who endures to the end will be saved” (Matt. 10:22b). That is the secret of the saints and a key to holiness and salvation.

4. St Benedict was a man who exposed himself constantly to God and His precepts as a monk. His biography reveals that his extreme, austere and severe lifestyle attracted a mild persecution from his fellow monks who wanted to get rid of him. Even though, he later introduced a bit of moderation to his rules, he endured till the end. He distinguished himself in labour and prayer: he was close to God, close to the earth and close to his fellow human beings. But he learned all these in a hard way. And his life is presented to us for our inspiration and emulation.

St Benedict, pray for us!


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