What is truth?

THAT was the question Pilate asked Christ. (cfr Jn 18,38)

But Christ already answered that question before it was asked.

“Everyone who is of the truth hears my voice,” he said.

            There we have a clear answer as to what truth is. It’s

when we hear the voice of Christ. It’s a voice that is full of

charity, understanding and compassion on others, patience and mercy.

It’s also a voice that knows how to be strong and implement the

requirements of justice.

            Truth therefore is not just cold facts that we observe,

nor some objective data that we derive from our studies and

researches. Much less is it simply a matter of political opinion or

some ideological bias or things of that sort. While giving us some

aspects of truth, these do not have the last word. And as such, they

are incomplete and can easily be manipulated.

            That is why right now with everyone trying to say the

truth without God, we are practically sinking in an ocean of fake

news, hoaxes, disinformation, urban legends, propaganda, inane

trivias, superstitions, biased opinions that seek to absolutize the

relative and relativize the absolute, etc. As a consequence, we

generate a very toxic atmosphere where conflicts, anger and hatred

dominate.

            We need to adjust our understanding of truth, because very

often our understanding of it has nothing to do with any reference to

Christ. We have to understand that Christ is the very embodiment of

truth because he is the Son of God who is the very pattern of our

humanity and the Redeemer who restores our humanity that is damaged by

sin.

            We have to realize that the fullness of the truth is in

Christ, truth in all its dimensions, aspects and levels.

Truth is not just something physical or scientific. It does not depend

so much on the intensity of the passions with which we affirm it. It

is not just social, political or economic. Neither is it simply

historical or cultural. Truth, of course, is all these but is still a

lot more.

            Truth has to enter into the spiritual and supernatural

reality to which we are all subject. It has something to do with

intentions and motives. And most especially, it by definition involves

our duty to love God and to love everybody else. Truth cannot be truth

unless is it infused also with the charity that comes from God, the

God who is the creator of all things and who governs his creation with

his abiding providence.

            Thus, we cannot actually be in the truth when we fail to

put God in the equation. In fact, to be truthful, God in Christ

through the Holy Spirit has to be at the core of it. He has to be the

very principle of truth. Without God, our truthfulness would be at the

mercy of our human designs and machinations. We cannot help but

distort it. Instead of aiming at the common good, we will simply be

interested in our own selfish interests.

            And so, we have to understand that to be truthful involves

our proper relation with God. It requires authentic piety. With such

piety, we will be led to find the truth in charity. Thus, affirming

the truth often involves patience, restraint and moderation,

willingness to suffer, etc.

            The triumph of truth is not triumphalistic!