Truth and Freedom

March 29, Wednesday, the Fifth week of Lent
Daniel 3: 14-20, 91-92, 95; John 8: 31-42

Truth leads us to true freedom. Once a politician during his political campaign lifted up a child from the street and cleaned his dirty nose with his hands. The media photographed the event and his followers esteemed him and termed his act heroic. Back in his home as he was cleaning his hand he complained ‘get me the best soap, the child that I lifted up today was a dirty pig, and I need to wash at least ten times to get rid of that dirty stink.” The little daughter of the politician asked “Dad, are you a fraud?”  Falsehood is binding, but the truth is liberating. Pretensions do not give us freedom but truth.

In the gospel according to St John chapter 8, verse 32, Jesus said “And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Jesus forgives the woman caught in adultery and this leads to a dispute about who Jesus was. Jesus tries to convince them by saying he was the Son of God. 

Then Jesus said to those who believed Him that they were truly his disciples because they remained faithful to his teachings. It is to these faithful disciples that Jesus said “And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Sin binds the human person. But it is an encounter with the truth that will give the power to break free. The disciples of Jesus who live according to God’s commandments are truly free. Those who do not believe in him have not perceived the truth and hence cannot be free. 

Jesus gives us the power to believe in the truth. That helps us discover our vocation as children of God. That gives us our identity. May the truth lead us to freedom so that falsehood, pretensions, and sin do not bind us. The grace that Jesus offers, gives us the opportunity to raise our spirit to truth and experience spiritual freedom.