To tell the truth...

The Roman Catholic Lectionary today brings text which emphasizes the importance of being truthful especially in matters of our relationship with the Divine. When we consider the parable of the loaves and fishes in Matthew’s Gospel, we often struggle to present a rational explanation for the ability of 5 loaves and 2 fish to feed over five thousand people. The image of the nature of the Divine as compassion to the healing needs of the wandering people and the limitless abundance to be found in that relationship to more than fully satisfy the deep hunger of the indwelling Spirit to be in communion with God is the truth of this passage. The tension between Hananiah and Jeremiah is one of verifying that the prophet who speaks for God speaks about peace. The false prophet who speaks and seeks to lead for self aggrandizement is in severe danger of mortal separation from the Divine. Some of the controversy around statements from the Vatican needs to be reviewed in the light of the ancient obligation to God to be truthful and avoid heresy. The “political” demands of the day to say this and do that are properly discerned for traces of the spirit of self serving which hides the truth in motives which on the surface may seem just and fair, yet will bear fruit in power and control which are contrary to the model of Jesus. Three activities of discernment were offered by Fr. Roberto in his homily yesterday. They are prayer (communion with the Divine), study (the Bible gives the information about the model to follow) and experience (the question is WWJD? What would Jesus do? ). The application of thes three steps to the questions which are brought to our attention will assist our search for the direction in the truth.