WHAT IS TRUTH?

Courage “means speaking the truth openly and without compromise,” like Peter and John who — strengthened by the Holy Spirit — would not be silenced when the religious leaders of their day ordered them not to speak about Jesus. 

Such was the message of Pope Francis in his homily during morning Mass recently.

How could anyone disagree?

But, the crux of the challenge which the Holy Father presents is really not so much about being uncompromising in proclaiming the truth, it’s knowing what the truth of any matter really is.

Every year during Holy Week, when the Passion is read aloud in its entirety, I am struck by the exchange recorded between Jesus and Pilate who appears to be desperate to assist Our Lord in mounting some type of self-defense against the criminal charges the Jews are leveling against Him.

At one point in that exchange, Jesus tells Pilate that He was sent “to testify to the Truth”.  Pilate then asks perhaps the most significant question which has remained unanswered in the twenty-plus centuries that have unfolded since it was first posed to the Son of God Himself:  “What is truth?”

The Church claims to know what truth is.  As a matter of fact, the Church’s fundamental claim to moral authority is predicated upon the Church’s profession that she is the “depository” of Divine Truth which provides a certain and clear path directing man’s hunger for knowledge and his desire to do good. 

Yet, throughout the course of her history, the Church has been witness to countless debates and divisions regarding whether the teachings and disciplines she has proclaimed are true and profitable for salvation.

Are those who disagree with Church teaching motivated by a desire to have the Church “compromise” the truth?  Or, rather, do they perceive a different truth which they believe worthy of equally uncompromising fidelity in its promulgation?

Certainly, the history of Christianity reveals that there have been martyrs on both sides of the debates that have often bred division within the ranks of the faithful.  I am sure that every martyr earnestly believe that he or she is sacrificing their lives for the truthfulness of what they believe.

Surely, the Church’s claim to possess the “fullness of truth” will not in and of itself end challenges that come to her both from within and outside her members.  A case in point:  Amoris Laetitia!

And so, while we agree with Pope Francis that we should announce the truth without fear and with conviction, let us pray that God will grant us the wisdom to know what is true and how we can best serve that truth in fulfilling His Holy Will.

For doing what is right and true is relatively easy.  What is hard is knowing what the right thing to do is in any given situation and circumstance.  God grant us that wisdom.  God grant us that grace always.