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April 28, 2022“We are witnesses of these things, as is the Holy Spirit…” - (Acts 5:32)
One of my favorite sayings of Jesus comes from the Gospel according to St. John: “And the Truth will set you free” (John 8:32). One of my least favorite sayings of Jesus is also: “And the Truth will set you free.” You might look at those two sentences and say: “How can this be?” The paradox of living in the truth, believing the truth about oneself, God, and life in general, is that it gives one freedom, but also nails one to the cross simultaneously. How can a person nailed to a cross, literally fixed into the wood, in excruciating pain, be free? The answer comes from the Holy Spirit & lies deep within one’s heart, mind, & soul.
Deep abiding Freedom does not require an external ability to go where one wants, do what one desires, or live in the absence of pain. Lasting Freedom is living the truth in love & bearing witness to that love & freedom to all we encounter. Can a man in a jail cell be free? Yes. Can a paraplegic or quadriplegic live in freedom? Yes, certainly. Can an elderly man or woman who is homebound or confined to a nursing home bed have deep soul-felt freedom? They can, without a doubt.
Our world equates freedom with unchecked liberty, which is a mistake. Unchecked liberty can be found in denial, without truth, and without boundaries. This kind of liberty can actually foster addictions. The concept of worldly liberty, especially in America, most often leads to selfishness and even for some hedonism.
The freedom that Jesus offers by witnessing to how we might embrace the truth of our lives, without lying to ourselves or living in denial, is not recognized by the world.
The Apostles in the First Reading today from the Acts of the Apostles are witnessing to the Truth of salvation found in Jesus Christ. Peter & the Apostles stand up before the leaders of their faith and tell the truth, they are witnesses (martyrs) for the truth that God has become flesh and those same leaders rejected Him and crucified Him, but he rose from the dead. They are witnessing to a hard truth. Can you imagine someone today speaking this boldly to the powers of the world? Who are the witnesses today, the martyrs for the truth today?
There are many enemies to freedom and truth in our modern world. These enemies are fear, unforgiveness, and denial to name a few of the more powerful destroyers of truth. They manifest themselves in addiction which enslaves our will, in judgement of those who are different from us, which engenders fear, & most prevalently the enemy of freedom today is an idolatry to pleasure, power, & politics.
In order to “feel” freedom and truly live freedom we must allow the Truth as God sees it to take root deeply in our hearts. This is done through communion with Jesus, attentive silence and listening to the Holy Spirit, immersing our minds in the Word of God, & beginning to see ourselves and the world as God sees. Living in Truth sets us free. Witnessing to the truth sets others free. How different would the world be today if Peter and the Apostles never witnessed to Jesus’ Resurrection? They died free, because they lived and witnessed to the truth in their hearts. Will the moment of our last breath be lived in freedom & truth or denial? It is really the only question worth answering.
