The truth Will Make You Free

Again he said to them, ‘I am going away, and you will search for me, but you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come.’ Then the Jews said, ‘Is he going to kill himself? Is that what he means by saying, “Where I am going, you cannot come”?’ He said to them, ‘You are from below, I am from above; you are of this world, I am not of this world. I told you that you would die in your sins, for you will die in your sins unless you believe that I am he.’ They said to him, ‘Who are you?’ Jesus said to them, ‘Why do I speak to you at all? I have much to say about you and much to condemn; but the one who sent me is true, and I declare to the world what I have heard from him.’ They did not understand that he was speaking to them about the Father. So Jesus said, ‘When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will realize that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own, but I speak these things as the Father instructed me. And the one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what is pleasing to him.’ As he was saying these things, many believed in him. Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, ‘If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.’ John 8:21-32

We live in a year of elections, when candidates rattle on about lies other people have spoken, yet rarely own up to their own lack of truthfulness. We are human and often the truth is not in us, no matter how we try. The most faithful people are aware of their mistakes, admit them and ask forgiveness when they have harmed another. Jesus knew the truth since he was embedded in the Creator, the source of all truth. And he knew that truth will make us free. Truth and love live hand in hand both in our Creator and throughout all of creation. And untruths and hate grow like weeds together. We can choose one way or the other, but never both. We are invited to daily seek honest humility, and we will be made free in God's truth and love.

Loving Creator our source of all truth

you show the world your love in creation

shining through our darkness with hope

and give us the strength to live in you.

We wander away seeking power and signs

when all around us are the signs of love

in the humble who serve with great joy

you can always be found among them.

Help us to be those who seek your truth

let us humbly live in your love

let all we do be gratitude for love given

and your truth will shall make us all free. Amen.