Truth

From today's Gospel (John 17:11b-19):  "Consecrate them in the truth."

Jesus is speaking to the Father about his followers.  I've been thinking about that phrase this morning, and I don't really know what it means to be consecrated in the truth.  Yet, "truth" has been on my mind a lot lately--finding my truth, my true self, and really speaking my truth.  

The last year or so, at least since entering the Society of the Sacred Heart, has been a time for me to discover who I am and what I value.  I don't think my values have really changed, though my eyes have been opened to new things in new ways--things like human trafficking and the concerns about the environment.  At the same time, I've been trying to really speak up for what I think, feel, believe.  That's not so easy for me, but the encouragement and respect of my sisters has helped me with that.

And I still have questions about truth, too.  There are some truths that are better kept in my heart than spoken out loud, sometimes because those things are private, and at other times because they would be hurtful to someone else.  How do you balance being truthful and caring for the feelings of the ones you love?  It seems to me like that's sometimes a very fine line.

The Gospel reading continues:

Your word is truth.
As you sent me into the world,
so I sent them into the world.
And I consecrate myself for them,
so that they also may be consecrated in truth.

So, being consecrated in truth means being consecrated in the word of God, which means being set aside for God's special purpose, in and for Jesus. Isn't that a powerful way to think about living as a Christian?

Comments

Helen said…
Dear Juliet,
I, too, have been thinking about truth and you have helped me. The first assignment when we began the Juniorate as Second Year novices was to write an essay on "What is truth?" I am still struggling with that very first assignment!! I know that when Jesus says, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life" it means so much to me, but not easy to articulate. Thank you for your sharing.
Love and prayer, Helen
May 19, 2010 at 1:44 PM
Sister Juliet, RSCJ said…
Dear Helen,

Thanks! Maybe I'm just ahead of the game..thinking about truth before becoming a first-year novice!

It is hard to articulate. One of my favorite things about theology is that sense of mystery--that sometimes it's okay that things are hard to articulate because they are so much bigger and more significant than any words we can give them.

Thanks for visiting me here!
Love,
Juliet
May 20, 2010 at 6:36 AM
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