Word to the Wise
Wednesday, May 16, 2012 - 6th Week of Easter - Wed
[Acts 17:15, 22-18:1 and John 16:12-15]I have much more to tell you but you cannot bear it now. But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth.
When I was Novice Master for my Dominican province (1988-92), I challenged the novices to use the time of the novitiate to answer this question: "Does becoming a Dominican tell the truth about you?" In the Gospel of John, the "truth" is not a set of objective propositions to be memorized, but a PERSON, Jesus Christ! This is why Pilate's question - "What is truth?" - is terribly ironic. The "truth" was standing right in front of him!
Jesus promises us the guidance of the Holy Spirit in the lifelong effort to tell the truth. How do we find ourselves in relationship to him and the Father? For some people these questions seem impossible to confront because of doubts, sinfulness, or indifference. It is only when they meet someone who takes these questions seriously that they realize there is something more than doubt, sin or indifference at work! Jesus' statement, quoted above, implies that we have room to grow in the process. The disciples at the time would have some very painful experiences ahead. It would be the Holy Spirit that would guide them and everyone who came after them - all baptized persons (remember the dialogue between Jesus and Nicodemus).
The question I asked the novices has no final answer in this life because we continue to grow. At the moment, I am in Chicago to preach a retreat to elderly Dominican friars. I still phrase the question in the same way, "DOES becoming a Dominican tell the truth about you?" - not DID becoming, etc. Can we allow the Spirit to guide us to all truth? Especially the truth about Jesus and ourselves? AMEN