June 5, 2019 – Wednesday of the 7^th Week of Easter

Acts 20:28-38: Jn 17:11b-19

How do we perceive the truth from the false? Or how do we identify the real from the fake? We might find it difficult to identify what is true from false when false would pretend to be like the truth.

A story was told about the Naked Truth and the Lie. And so, the Truth and the Lie met on the road one day. The Lie said to the Truth: “It’s a marvelous day today!” The Truth looked up to the sky and sighed, for the day was really beautiful.

They walked together for a while, until they reached a beautiful well. Then Lie told the Truth: “The water in the well is very nice, let’s take a swim together!” The Truth, once again suspicious, tested the water and discovered that it, indeed, was very nice.

They undressed and started to swim. Suddenly, the Lie jumped out of the well, put on the clothes of the Truth and ran off towards a nearby village. The furious Truth leaped out of the well and ran to find the Lie and to get her clothes back. The Villagers, seeing the Naked Truth, were horrified and looked away with contempt and rage.

The poor Truth returned to the well and disappeared forever, hiding in her shame. And since that day, the Lie travels the world, clothed as The Truth.

(from https://storytelling.co.za/the-naked-truth-and-the-lie/)

This certainly is very true. We love to listen to gossips and to be entertained by it and as a result even believing to it. This happens even within family members, circles of friends, and neighbors and among colleagues at work. We would even add in defaming others ones a gossip would reach our ears.

In social media platforms too, we seemed to be ignorant at believing to rampant fake news. We easily believe a particular story on Facebook when we see that there are many people liking it or commenting on it without verifying such news.

It seems that we are very dependent upon the dictation of other people in perceiving and believing something. Yet, remember also, not everything that is believed by many is always true. The Lie in the story were perceived and believed by many to be the Truth. But people were disgusted when they saw the Naked Truth.

This is the desire of Jesus for all his followers. We have heard in the Gospel of John how Jesus expressed this desire, “Consecrate them in truth, your word is truth.”

Jesus desired that each of us would be consecrated in him because he is the Truth. Jesus himself also is the living Word of God. The Bible, which contains the Word of God, also contains the Truth.

Thus, we are called to grow in that Truth and to have a personal relationship with the Truth, with Jesus. This will also be possible by making ourselves available and open to God’s word in the Bible.

Jesus desires that each of us will be consecrated to him and be purified through His word. It is a challenge for us then to always discern the inputs that come to us. Be more aware to what we are listening if it is merely a gossip that destroys the image of another person or a good news. Beware also of the fake news that has been spread in social media. Adhere rather to what is Truth by being discerning and intelligent. Develop a love for Word of God and constantly seek God’s wisdom and desire that we may truly be consecrated to Jesus, to the truth. Hinaut pa.

Jom Baring, CSsR