Love the Truth
6th Sunday of Easter
“O God, let all the nations praise you!”Ps. 67
Jesus is the Truth, and the devil is the enemy of the truth. Therefore, our ability to discern between truth and lies reveals whose side we are on.
“But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth.”John 16:13
Whoever loves the truth rejects lies in all their forms, because there can be no communion between the two-just as there is none between light and darkness.
“Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer share with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God…”2 Corinthians 6:14
“Jesus answered, ‘You say that I am a king. For this I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.'”John 18:37
That is why we identify with Him—His voice resounds in our soul because we love the truth, we recognize it if we choose to be His disciples.
On the other hand, some people despise the truth-some by openly rejecting it, whether by denying obvious facts such as being a man or a woman, or that abortion is killing, etc. Others despise it by opening themselves up to lies—by believing suspicions or prejudices against some- one based solely on a baseless or erroneous thought that crosses their mind, and accepting it as true.
This is an offense against the truth and a grave sin, because it is humanly irresponsible—failing to use the intelligence and reason God gave us, which distinguishes us from animals. From a Christian standpoint, it is sinful because it allows the devil and his lies to easily enter the mind and heart, which will almost always lead to negative consequences, especially division—since one ends up thinking badly of a fellow child of God, without sufficient reason or certainty.
One sins against the truth when one does not believe every word and teaching of Jesus, and instead prefers to believe the world or one’s own flesh-both of which belong to the enemy’s team, a nature fallen through sin. It is the same sin as that of Adam and Eve.
“Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.”John 17:17
The holly Spirit is our sanctifier, the Spirit of truth. What sanctification in the truth is sought by someone who decides for themselves what to believe and what not to believe? By someone who trusts more in themselves than in God and the Church? By someone who picks and chooses from revelation as they please? This is a clear sign that they are not following Jesus but themselves. This includes those who don’t believe that Jesus is God, who don’t accept His own words, those who don’t believe in the Eucharist-where He remains as the Bread of Life-and so many other explicit teachings of Jesus. It also includes those who disobey other commandments of God and the Church, such as attending Mass, helping the Church in its needs, and so on.
Let us be lovers of the truth, so that we may seek it tirelessly and wholeheartedly beg for it with Mary, like the first apostles: COME, HOLY SPIRIT.
Live the Liturgy – Inspiration for the Week
God makes His dwelling with those who love Him and keep His word. We must all make our lives places where God feels welcome to dwell. Our actions, our words, our decisions must all say in one voice:
“Come, Holy Spirit!”
Weekly Readings
Sunday: Acts 15:1-2, 22-29/Ps 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8 (4)/ Rv 21:10-14,22-23/Jn 14:23-29
Monday: Acts 16:11-15/Ps 149:1b-2, 3-4, 5-6a and 9b/Jn 15:26-16:4a
Tuesday: Acts 16:22-34/Ps 138:1-2ab, 2cde-3, 7c-8/Jn 16:5-11
Wednesday: Acts 17:15, 22-18:1/Ps 148:1-2, 11-12, 13, 14/Jn 16:12-15
Thursday: Acts 18:1-8/Ps 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4/Jn 16:16-20
Ascension: Acts 1:1-11/Ps 47:2-3, 6-7, 8-9(6)/Eph 1:17-23 or Heb 9:24-28; 10:19-23/Lk 24:46-53
Friday: Acts 18:9-18/Ps 47:2-3, 4-5, 6-7/Jn 16:20-23
Saturday: Zep 3:14-18a or Rom 12:9-16/ls 12:2-3,4bcd, 5-6/Lk 1:39-56
Next Sunday: Acts 7:55-60/Rv 22:12-14, 16-17, 20/Jn 17:20-26
Ascension: Acts 1:1-11/Ps 47:2-3, 6-7, 8-9 (6)/Eph 1:17-23 or Heb 9:24-28; 10:19-23/Lk 24:46-53
Observances for the Week
Sunday: 6th Sunday of Easter
Monday: St. Philip Neri, Priest; Memorial Day
Tuesday: St. Augustine of Canterbury, Bishop
Thursday: The Ascension of the Lord (holy day of obligation in some U.S. dioceses); St. Paul VI, Pope
Saturday: The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Next Sunday: The Ascension of the Lord; 7th Sunday of Easter; World Communications Day
