Are We on the Side of Truth?
As we come to the end of the Liturgical Year, we celebrate the Feast of Christ the King; it is time to reflect if Christ reigns in our hearts?
Pope Pius XI instituted the Feast of Christ the King in 1925 when secularism was on the rise in Europe. Today if we observe, our world is deteriorating in values – secularism and materialism have an upper hand. The world gives resounding victory to the corrupt and shuts its eyes to the truth.
This week, we see Jesus (John 18: 37) declaring, “Yes, I am king. I was born for this, I came into the world for this: to bear witness to the truth; and all who are on the side of the truth listen to my voice.”
What is Truth?
“I am the way and the truth and the life.” (John 14:6)
Pilate was staring at the Truth and he did not know. Are we on the side of Truth?
Pope Benedict XVI explains that Christ does not impose on us but always respects our freedom. He came to bear witness to the truth. He explains that 21st century mentality of relativism holds that there is no real objective foundational truth but only opinions and in this situation “the only thing that counts is the power of the one who is stronger and knows how to win over the majority to his views,” (2018).
This means since there is no standard to correspond to, anything goes- what is true for you may not be true for me. In other words relativism “does not recognize anything as definitive and whose ultimate goal consists solely of one’s own ego and desires” Pope Benedict XVI (2005). Benedict also suggests that the further we are from God, the further we are from the truth and the further we are from truth the further we are from knowing what is right and wrong, what we should do, our real identity and purpose.
Christ has dominion over all creatures, a dominion not seized by violence nor usurped, but his by essence and by nature. — St. Cyril of Alexandria
Benedict explains that Jesus comes to rule not through violence but rather through his passion. It is through the power of love that he conquers the world. He ‘derives good from evil, softens a hardened heart, brings peace to the bitterest conflict, turns the thickest darkness into hope” (2009).
“Choosing Christ does not guarantee success according to the criteria of today’s world, but ensures that peace and joy that only He can give,” Pope Benedict XVI (2009)
If Christ reigns in our hearts, then we too are called to be witnesses to the truth-to listen to his voice and follow the truth.
“Without truth, charity degenerates into sentimentality. Love becomes an empty shell, to be filled in an arbitrary way…It falls prey to contingent subjective emotions and opinions, the word “love” is abused and distorted, to the point where it comes to mean the opposite.” Pope Benedict XVI