“O my Jesus, You know that I have gotten myself into a lot of trouble for speaking out the truth. O truth, so often oppressed, you nearly always wear a crown of thorns! O Eternal Truth, support me that I may have the courage to speak the truth even if it would come about that I would pay for it with my life. O Jesus, how hard it is to believe in this, when one sees one thing taught and something else lived.” Divine Mercy in My Soul # 1482
The world is full of lies, half truths and maybe more insidious, “personal truth.”
“Pilate asked him, “What is truth?”” John 18:38
Should we fear the truth? On one hand the truth can get us in trouble. Look, for example, at the Martyrs. They are witnesses to the truth with the shedding of their blood. They “got in trouble” only in the sense that their testimony to the truth brought forth their persecution. But in the eyes of God this is no trouble at all. It is an act of great love and honesty, courage and resolve. They chose the truth over life itself.
Though you most likely will not be called to be a witness to the truth to the point of literally shedding your blood, the resolve in your mind and heart must be the same as the great martyrs. We must have an unwavering adherence to that which is in the Mind of God and must never hesitate to speak that truth with conviction. Of course, prudence is a guiding virtue that will enable us to discern what to say when. But we must, nonetheless, always be ready to adhere to and proclaim the truth with all the powers of our soul.
“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”” John 14:6
We must stand for the truths the Catholic Church is built upon – those of life, marriage and the Eucharist. There are many non-negotiable facts of our faith in Jesus Christ and we must be willing to stand for these truths even if that means we stand alone against the wave of society and even against those within the church itself. The lies of this world are truly invasive and evil. They are fed by the father of lies himself skirting the truth and twisting it so that many many souls are being misled believing what they hear is true.
Speak the truth with love and let the great of your words flow out. We must stand and speak the truth even if it flies against the opinion of those around you. Then, when we stand before God, we will give a witness to our efforts if not our successes. From Pope, to President, to priest, to each of us – we will be held accountable for what we say and do. Speak and live the truth.
Will you stand for that which is truth? Real truth.