Since the inauguration of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, the prevailing attitude expressed by many commentators as well as the general public is that truth is refreshing. The majority of our citizens understand why “refreshing” is the operative descriptor of the president’s comments, staff briefings to the media, and messages and updates to the people of this country. But truth should not be refreshing; truth should be common. And more to the point, truth should be expected, even mundane.
During the former guy’s presidency, we endured thousands of lies. We heard lies that propped up a narcissist’s empty image. We even heard lies that cost lives. Lying on a daily basis about everything from policies to people became a death threat to everything that described life in a democracy.
Therefore, it is easy to understand why we now find the truth refreshing. How do we move beyond the darkness of consistent lies? When will it be comforting to believe that truth should not be refreshing? How long will it take to trust the words we hear from our leaders?
What is truth?
In John’s Gospel we hear this interchange between Pilate and Jesus. When Jesus speaks these words, “Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice,” Pilate replies, “What is truth?” Pilate then returns to tell the crowd his truth, “I find no case against him.” But when given a choice of accepting Pilate’s willingness to release the man he finds innocent, the crowd chooses a criminal, Barabbas. We know how this story ends. The Truth-Teller is put to death; the crowd feels justified in their alliance with power.
Are we being called in our own time to recognize when truth is twisted by power to suit its own evil intent? Do we find hope for truth-tellers who listen to the voice of God? Do we recognize the voice piercing through the lies that now make hearing truth a time to feel refreshed? Will we have the courage to make truth a common, everyday reality?
Well presented. I never thought of that!