The Truth Will Set You Free

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This morning I read the news headline, “If there is one thing the coronavirus has taught it is that Canadians need to be more self-sufficient.” Later I read another headline, this one coming from the Gospel of John. It said, “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (Jn 8: 31-32)

I was and continue to be struck by how diametrically opposed those two statements are.  Either I am going to find my freedom through becoming more self-sufficient, or I
will find it by immersing myself in the mercy and truth of God’s word.  I think this strikes at the core of God’s call in my life at this time; perhaps in all of our lives, if I may be so bold as to make that presumption.

All my life I have been scouring the scriptures to find the verse that states, “I have come that your life might be a bed of roses!” I have yet to find it.  What I keep bumping into are things like, “Take up your cross every day…Blessed are the poor…there is no greater love than to give one’s life for one’s friend…Give your possessions to the poor and follow me…” and I could go on and on.   I am trying to discern what discipleship means for me at this time, and “self-sufficiency” is not a phrase that is touching me in the deepest places.

At this time, I am not finding answers in the news headlines. What I am finding there is deep restlessness, profound fear, and a growing sense of panic. I find no freedom in the toilet paper frenzy! I am realising there is nothing, absolutely nothing I can do about what is and will happen in this world. I am touching at a painful level my own existential helplessness.  When I do that, all that is left is trust in God’s Word. I don’t mean to sound naïve. It takes all the courage I can muster to touch this and put my faith in God’s Word which is the real truth.  Can I hang on to that when I see so much pain and suffering?  That is freedom.  I pray this freedom for myself, for every human being on this planet.  “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”   Chantelle














Comments

  1. GlennApril 2, 2020 at 11:38 AM

    Posting on Behalf of Alice, Received April 1
    I’ve been to work the past two days (Monday and Tuesday) – and am struck by how much fear is out there – especially, it seems to me, in the young people who have never had to fight for much. Everything they really needed or wanted was mostly there for the taking. I also think there is going to be a lot needed in mental health in the coming days (Edit: for example, one doctor on the news last night said there is going to be so much PTSD among medical people after this). Today I joined you at prayer at 10:00 – I also joined online Quantum Touch for our own immunity, then as a group sending energy around the world for 20 minutes for everyone in need … Energy, prayer, love: for me the words are pretty interchangeable. We are fine. Even though I am usually alone, now I wish I could be with people … City Hospital is emptying out, the last surgery today – then we will take medical patients as needed from other hospitals.
    Alice Zimmer, Saskatoon

     

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  2. GlennApril 2, 2020 at 12:54 PM

    With our thanks to a good friend, Alan Hustak, Fort Qu’Appelle, we have learned of a video being prepared of one minute meditations on the 14 Stations of the Cross; it is being done by Rev. Robert Warren, Vicar of All Saints Anglican Church in Rome, with contributions of people from 14 countries. When the series is complete, we will send the link to the video. Alan is the Canadian on the list of 14; his contribution is today on the First Station: Jesus is Condemned to Death. We include it in this comment. In the meantime, again at Alan’s suggestion, we invite others to offer a short reflection on any of the Stations, and post as a comment in this section in the upcoming days before Easter. Thank you.

    Pilate, Scripture tells us, sentenced Christ to die "to please the crowd," then washed his hands of all responsibility for what he had done. All of us, like Pilate, to one degree or another, have positions of authority over others. How often do we judge others with our words, or with our indifference, without being aware of the consequences? How often do we make decisions, not because what we do is right, but to serve our own egos, because it is expedient for us "to please the crowd?"
     

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