Living out our truth
Reflection (May 24, 2023- Wednesday, 46th Day of Easter)
By Fr Erl Dylan Tabaco, SSC
Living out our truth
Reflection (May 24, 2023- Wednesday, 46th Day of Easter)
By Fr Erl Dylan Tabaco, SSC
Lifting up his eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed, “Holy Father, keep them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one just as we are. When I was with them I protected them in your name that you gave me, and I guarded them, and none of them was lost except the son of destruction, in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to you. I speak this in the world so that they may share my joy completely. I gave them your word, and the world hated them, because they do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world but that you keep them from the Evil One. They do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world. Consecrate them in the truth. Your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I sent them into the world. And I consecrate myself for them, so that they also may be consecrated in truth.” (John 17: 11b-19)
We often hear the famous cliché, “The truth shall set us free.” But if truth shall set us free, how come we still patronize and proliferate fake news in our social media accounts? Why do we use those pieces of information as the subject of our conversation? If truth liberates us from our illusions and assumptions, why is it that we opt to choose fabricated information over authentic ones? If truth truly is an indispensable value that we Christians should live by, why is it that we gauge the authenticity of what we hear based on its popularity within a particular group in power?
Perhaps we don’t understand how important truth is in our lives. If we do, it will make a difference in our society and the world we live in. The problem that we face today is not the availability of authentic information before us, but how we discern and assess the information that we receive. We need to think critically and be cautious in consuming the plethora of information available to us.
When we talk about discernment to uncover the truth, we should remind ourselves of how Jesus´s mission unfolded. In his ministry, the truth of his word is always embedded in his deeds. Every time he speaks, he draws out attention from the crowd. There is power in his word because it shows how he live out every word he says. When Jesus speaks about compassion, he doesn’t have to explain it with abstract ideas because it is already shown on how he deals with sinners and those ostracized by society. When he speaks about generosity, he moves with compassion and bless whatever they have to respond to the needs of the people. When he speaks about forgiveness, he doesn´t rationalize the gravity of our sins. Instead, he offers himself fully even death on the cross as a perfect expression that God´s mercy overpowers our sinfulness.
In today´s Gospel, Jesus is reminding his disciples to abide in the truth that he shared with them. To be his followers, the truth shall never be compromised even in the midst of persecution and humiliation. Truth is indelible, it is the Word of God made flesh. If they remain in the truth even when the world will hate them, they will be set free. After all, living in truth does not exempt anyone from suffering, but those who persevere in testifying the truth that they received from the Lord, have eternal joy awaiting them. Thus, Jesus said: “Consecrate them in the truth. Your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I sent them into the world. And I consecrate myself for them, so that they also may be consecrated in truth.” By the power of God´s Word who is Jesus himself, he will be with his disciples as they continue to participate in the mission that was entrusted to them.
Like his disciples, we are also called to participate in the same mission that he has entrusted to them. But we must choose his message over the overwhelming disturbing voices that constantly feed us. If we have a discerning heart, we will know how to differentiate the truth from the fake ones through its fruits. If the message we receive brings out the common good, then it is surely authentic and comes from God. If the message being conveyed speaks about tolerance, respect, compassion, inclusion, equality, and justice, then it comes from the ONE who is the source of truth.
The choice is in our hands now. Let our lives be a reflection of who God is and the truth that calls us to proclaim. Let us be catalysts of change as we stop the vicious cycle of division, hatred and disharmony brought about by the widespread of fake news which is contrary to the WORD of God where truth resides. Amen!