Consequences of boldly declaring the Truth

Amos 7:7 - 15 / Psalm 85:8 - 13 / Ephesians 1:3 - 14 / Mark 6:14 - 29

God most high, you have given us in the Church a new Commandment through your only Begotten that love fulfills the law. May we love you with all our heart, all our soul, all our strength, and may we love our neighbour as ourselves and persevere in the truth through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.

Truth is a virtue that is invaluable. It cannot be purchased. It is earned over a period of time, through a person’s character, behaviour and actions. When fear for truth is replaced by dishonesty, deceit and lies, truth is lost. Once lost it is hard to earn back. 

Today’s Sri Lanka presents an environment where truth is lost. It has led to confusion, the abuse of people's rights, discrimination, and brings into question the functions of those who have been tasked to lead and govern us, the law enforcing officers and most often the judiciary too.

But In truth we don’t have to look far, but right within our own house, the church, we have experiences of standing up for the truth and the consequences that the laity and clergy have had to face for standing up for truth.

However one needs not fear to speak truth or stand up for the truth, and I believe the church is the best community to show the world the virtue of truth and it's fruits and if needed to suffer to safeguard truth.

Our readings for the day help us to understand truth and its consequences. The prophet Amos, not a prophet by descent speaks God's word. The people of Israel are happy about God's judgement on Israel's neighbours. But not about them. So the priest Amazia is accusing Amos of a conspiracy and falsely complains him to king Jeroboam.

In the our gospel reading john speaks truth to power. He speaks about the immorality of the king. He is imprisoned and then beheaded. For Herod the truth that John the Baptist spoke about his personal life was not so much a problem, when compared to displeasing his daughters wish. Rather than standing up for his conviction he is worried about what his guests would say if he didn’t keep his word . 

Both cases ring a bell of familiarity in our own country, and even within the church, though there is no physical imprisonment or beheading, some actions amount to that. In both these contexts we see that truth disturbs the status quo, instils fear, it is a threat to popularity, power and authority, truth becomes a stumbling block to the corrupt and immoral living.

Yet, Amos and john the Baptist, are bold fearless and courageous. In the midst of threats and danger to life, they face the consequences of boldly declaring the truth. That is because they have understood, their purpose and the call. They are obedient to God.

Note this. When there is evil truth is the disturbed, and the consequence is "truth is crushed". 

But there is always hope. As the Psalmist says God is righteous. And righteousness looks down from heaven. That is a sign of fine times. Fine times is an evidence of God’s favour. It is evidence of These become the hard earned fruits of truth.

So what can we take with us from these stories.

First, every individual, be it ordinary people or people in power and position, we are called to be true. Because the one who calls us to be true, is the truth.

Popularity, power, authority.  Never seek them unless you can be true, and you are bold and courageous to face the truth.

Never compromise on truth. It is not just for the politicians like Jeroboam and Herod or for the religious leaders like Amazia. It is for the ordinary person and for everyday life.

Be it in the country or in the church, whether one holds position or not, truth needs to be held on to at all cost in everyday life. Where there is truth there is love. Where there is no truth there is downfall. Where truth is upheld, steadfast love and faithfulness will meeting. And righteousness and peace will kiss each other. Because as the Psalmist says, God is righteous and righteousness looks down from heaven. And that will become the fine times, that God's favour rests upon us even when we face the consequences of truth.

We as God's people are not meant to be meagre spectators and commentators while the drama of the consequences of truth unfolds before our very eyes. We are called to be saints and holy people. Saints, not the super hero’s or the people with the halo on top of their heads. But someone whose thinking and living at least strives to be different, special, not blending into the mobs out there, but those who stand above the mobs, those who have the courage to stand up for the truth even if it would cost their lives. And that is the holy life that we are called to live. For that we need to have courage. And we need to love truth.

May the God of truth keep us courageous in holding on to truth.

(Cathedral of Christ the Living Saviour 11.07.2021)