“Truth Or Lies” Truth! What IS truth? What is THE truth? What has become of truth, the highest pinnacle of life, honour, freedom and integrity, in our world today? It seems there is an ‘assault’ on truth, a ‘denigration’, ‘manipulation’ of truth, causing society to feel unsettled, with little hope for the future, and an ‘abandonment’ of trust in God.
And yet, truth is the foundation of life itself. Human beings have been obsessed with ‘the Truth’ since God created us, and rightly so. But what does it mean? The Oxford Dictionary says Truth is: The quality or state of being true. That which is true or in accordance with fact or reality. A fact or belief that is accepted as true: their example, perhaps ironic at this time, is ‘the emergence of scientific truths’. “Now, are you going to take the garbage out? And don’t say you’re going to do it, and then don’t! That’s akin to lying.” This is a parent’s version of today’s gospel: easy to understand, and a very important lesson for a child: that a truthful, honest, committed person is a godly person. Truth tells us what is right and what is wrong. It teaches us love and respect for each other’s dignity and well-being. And if we say ‘No’, love teaches us we can still go back to our parents, spouses and children, friends, and community, and commit to the right thing, and do it! God, all merciful, sees with joy our changes of heart and commitment to the truth of his gospel. But still, … what IS truth itself? Actress and comedienne, Lily Tomlin, on a 60s TV show called ‘Laugh-In’ defined what truth was in her famous ‘Edith Ann monologues’, playing a 3 yr old sitting in a giant rocking-chair. After each brief story, she would say, “And that’s the truth”. In one episode, she tells us, “Do you know what happened the other day? Momma had a tea-party and this is what Mrs. Lawson said: “I just love these little-bitty tuna fish sandwiches.” And I said the kitty likes them, too. He ate 3 of them when he was walking across the table. … And that’s the truth!” She asks her mother, “Do you believe God made the world in 6 days? That’s what people say: God made the whole world in 6 days. And now he takes Sundays off, … while the rest of us have to get up and go to church! … And that’s the truth!” And then, “Mother, I do not make up things. That is lies! Lies is not true. … But the truth can be made up, … if you know how. … And that’s the truth!” The truth can be made up. Is this part of why we’ve lost our way? A news article said it is critical that world government continues to hold dear those things which mean everything to society: freedom, civility, and truth! For centuries we have tried to express truth in art, literature, drama, and music. An artist in Bejiing recently said, “All artists are in love with the world.” Indeed, they are in love with God, who IS the truth existing in the creation they try to interpret. And what magnificient creations we ourselves are: creatures of various colours, textures, dimensions, strengths and weaknesses, and yet fragile like the rest of our eco-system. Like in his famous poem, In a Station of the Metro, Ezra Pound writes after watching people come and go in the subway: “The apparition of these faces in the crowd; petals on a wet, black bough”. A critic said it vividly shows the elegance of human life, while showing its impermanence. Petals are found in nature in various vibrant colors which represent different human faces and cultures, and the petals which lie dying on the wet bough symbolize the transitoriness of life. The dignity and soul of every human being is captured in two short lines of poetry. Truth still might seem elusive, undefinable, because it is beyond all understanding. But we should recognize the Truth, because it IS with us, in us, and around us, since Truth is God himself. John 14.6: Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” We are making history now. Will we be remembered, not just as nations of people, but as people of God who reached across the divides between us, to unite us in our mutual determination for peace and the common good, a people who will do the work of our Father in heaven who asked us to do his will, to say ‘Yes’, and DO the work, a people of honour, integrity, civility, and truth, because, like our parents told us, truth makes us God-like, a very great honour indeed, because God IS Truth. Rev Fr Christopher Tracey Saint Joseph Parish Saugeen Shores, Ontario
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Father's Blog
Rev. Fr. Christopher Tracey
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