Truth to Power

Holding fast is just what we do. And we have lists from our dedication to a cereal brand to the model car we declare our allegiance – so many tentacles clinging to our ‘immovable feasts.’ These grapplers seize us and hold us to preconceived notions. That after a while, they own us.

Our spiritual lives become hampered by the slightest notions. Opinions of homilies, choirs, incense, singing, and the list goes on – are noises in our heads.

The court scene where the Apostles are in contempt for disobeying the court orders to stop preaching ‘in that name’ exemplifies the Apostles’ strength and steadfastness in the face of power – nothing picayune to deter the Apostles from standing up to power. The struggle here is with the accusers avoiding reconciling the old with the new. His name and his blood will not be part of them.

The Apostles, on the other hand, have no misgivings regarding their position.

We stand up to a weak power by growing up and growing into Christ, which requires steadfastness on our part. Disconnected from any false allegiances, we have a clear path to Truth.

In the court of public opinion, rumor-mongering, pettiness, false power, and adherence to the inconsequential do not suit us. We seek Truth because God trusts us to do so. It’s a difficult path, but surely, we can do some imitations of Saint Sebastian, Peter Julian, and the Apostles who spent their whole lives trusting God.

We seek the real but not in our fixation with the irritables. The very name and sacrifice of Jesus the Christ brings us to the Truth. What else do we need?

Prayer:

You who dwell in the Shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shade of the Almighty, say to the Lord, “My refuge and fortress, my God in whom I trust.” (Psalm 91:1-2)