LIVING THE TRUTH AND COMING TO THE LIGHT

 

The national elections held last year are a case study on truth and the coming to the light of many things about the lives of candidates. We saw a lot of muckraking, mud-slinging, and a whole lot more in the dirty tricks department coming to the fore in the run-up towards election day. In a very real sense, what was hidden often came to light and, thanks to the often close (and biased) scrutiny of either a hostile or friendly media outfit, the fates of certain candidates were either sealed or seared.

But this refers to nothing more than superficial “truth” co-opted for shallow political ends.

The saints give ample testimony to the power of a higher brand of truth — evangelical and moral truth, and how it ultimately leads to the light. No earthly power has yet managed to upstage what even Gandhi calls the “force of truth” (satyagraha). Envy and jealousy temporarily knocked out” individuals like St. Padre Pio of Pietrelcina, St. Benedict Menni and many others. But you can’t keep a good man down forever. One of my favorite biographies of saints is precisely that of Benedict Menni, the founder of the  Hospitaller Sisters of the Sacred Hearts. Entitled KO in Terra; OK in Cielo(KO on Earth; OK in Heaven), it tells of the heroic moral sufferings that St. Benedict endured in his lifetime, even in his exile in France where he died. But in the end, the truth prevailed. His detractors are now forgotten, but his name has come to the light of earthly and heavenly glory.

This is the truth that also comes to light in the stories that we read daily from the Acts of the Apostles, including today’s first reading. The apostles did many signs and wonders. The Sanhedrin and the authorities were at their wits’ end, trying to quell their rising popularity, to no avail, “because they were afraid of being stoned by the people.”

We all have our own stories to tell of bitter undeserved pain. But today’s readings, along with the examples of the saints, ought to convince us of this: living the truth is never far from coming to the light. Fr. Chito Dimaranan, SDB

 

Reflection Question:

How do I handle criticisms against me that are not founded on truth?

 

Lord, grant me the grace to always seek to live in the truth.

 

St. Venerius, pray for us.

YOUR SON WILL LIVE

 

We read in the Gospel that this is the second sign Jesus performed in Galilee. What was the first? You will remember that it was when He changed water into wine at the wedding feast.

Jesus seems to dismiss the request of the official: “Unless you see signs you will not believe.” Signs and wonders were common in the life and ministry of Jesus. They were there to confirm the faith of the believer. Signs still exist today. They are not old-fashioned events that are part of a bygone era. However, signs should not be the “be all” and the “end all.” There is more to faith than signs and wonders.

The sign that the Messiah has come and that the Kingdom of God is near is in the person, life and ministry of Jesus. No other sign needed. St. John of the Cross says God has spoken and there is no other word needed to be spoken. Jesus, the Word made flesh, is the final and definitive sign and word for all.

The faith of the royal official is to be noted here. He does not ask anything spectacular from Jesus, only that He come and visit his son and heal him. As a commander used to giving and receiving commands, he simply heeds the words of Jesus and believes that his son will live. On the way home, he discovers that his son is truly alive, thanks to the word of Jesus. What a tremendous faith this man exhibits before Jesus. He takes Jesus at His word and his son is freed from sickness. Because of this, his entire household came to believe in Jesus, their faith confirmed through the witness of the son’s health and the testimony of the official.

These days, we need to ponder the words of Jesus. His words are spirit and life. We need to heed the words of Jesus to speak life into us. As we practice our disciplines of Lent, let us ask the Lord to heal us. Let us hear again His words of life: “You will live.” Fr. Brian Steele, MGL

 

Reflection Question:

Jesus is the Lord of life. Where must He breathe life into you?

 

Lord, speak Your word of life to me that I may live again. Amen.

 

St. Plato, pray for us.