RBWords

     We Dominicans put the word, VERITAS, in many places in our houses and on our stationery and in our literature.  The great Dominican theologian, Yves Congar, OP, is quoted as saying that Dominicans must have "an unflinching regard for the truth."  In the gospel passage today, we are confronted with the truth, which is personified in Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh.

     This is not an easy task in today's world where so many people regard "truth" as a convenient word to use for whatever they subjectively conceive in their own minds.  There is little belief in a "truth" that exists apart from what we might think or emote!  The current pope, Benedict XVI has made it a special goal of his time in the papacy to combat "relativism," which makes all "truth" a matter of what a person believes.  In other words, in "relativism" a matter is true if we think it is.  There is no objective truth in that view.  If this were "true" then faith in Jesus becomes purely a subjective conception.  St. Dominic founded the Order of Preachers (Dominicans) to preach the truth which is Jesus Christ, and not some personal philosophy.  In this portion of the Farewell Discourse, Jesus prays for those who must preach this truth to a world that may very well persecute the preacher, or, what may be worse, ignore the preacher.

     The "truth" of Jesus Christ cannot be simply a matter of opinion.  Even if all of that truth cannot be accepted by other religious faiths, it still remains.  To make it simply a matter of opinion cannot be the goal of a Christian, even when we must respect and love those who do not believe the way we do.  Christ died for them, too!  Our preaching is supported by his grace and the Spirit.  With confidence and humility (not with arrogance and contempt) we must proclaim what our baptism demands of us - to tell the truth.  AMEN