Fight Not The Truth

 Reflection on Today's Readings, Wednesday, 2nd Week of Lent, Year B, March 3rd, 2021
Texts: Jer. 18:18; Ps. 31:5-6.14-16; Mtt. 20:17-28
No one fights the truth will ever win, for truth will always triumph. Today's first reading brings to mind the words of caiaphas and its real meaning: "you fail to see that it is to your advantage that one man should die for the people, rather than the whole nation should perish. He did not speak in his own person, but as high priest of that year he was prophesying that Jesus was to die for the whole nation -  and not for the nation only, but also to gather together into one the scattered children of God" (Mtt.18:50-52). In the first reading, the people resented Jeremiah because he told them the truth; they decided to destroy him.They held that killing him will not deprive them of God's guidance through His words. They said, "Come, let us make plots against Jeremiah, for the law shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. Come, let us strike him with the tongue, and let us not heed any of his words.” For them killing Jeremiah would not put an end to the words of God; for he was not the only prophet they had, other prophets, unlike him, would prophesy for them according to their wishes. Though they meant they had a prophet who would prophesy according to their wishes, it is true that no one's death could put an end to God's words. King Herod wanted to put an end to the truth by putting John the baptist in prison and finally killed him, he was surprised to see the truth coming to life in Jesus Christ. Again the chief priests and the elders fought the truth by crucifying Jesus Christ but were also defeated to have seen it coming to life in the apostles. They also decided to end the truth by killing the apostles and other disciples, they still failed; for the truth is still with us till today and forever it will be.
Today we are called to accept the truth wherever we find it. Though truth  is bitter and requires God's grace to accept it, whenever we accept it, we become better for it. Whenever we reject the truth we become worse. To reject the truth is to remain in bondage, for Jesus says, "You will come to know the truth, and the truth will set you free (John 8:32). When we know the truth, we are saved and freed from bondage.
Fighting the truth is not the best option for us; the truth will always triumph. The more we fight it the more we confirm it and bring it to reality. When we fight the truth we become enemies of progress, we also end up  destroying ourselves. Many of the time, we fight the truth out of envy, malice, anger, hatred, personal ego and ambition. Let us give up malice, hatred, anger, personal ambition and ego so as to be open up for divine encounter.
The reading teaches us that persecution is not strange to our faith. The prophets were persecuted,  the apostles were also persecuted. When the moment of persecution comes, we should be like Jeremiah, calling on God to intervene in his situation. We should only put our trust in God.
In today's gospel reading, Jesus also tells us about His passion. Jesus Christ was going up to Jerusalem to embrace the path of glory. This same path too becomes the path to follow to glory for us, His disciples. This becomes clear in His response to James and John, who were seeking a participation in His glory.  He says, "Are you able to drink the chalice that I am to drink?” They said to him, “We are able.” He said to them, “You will drink my chalice, but to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.” And when the Ten heard it, they were indignant at the two brothers" For us who are seeking a participation in His grace, we are to prepare to walk with Him in the path of cross.  Lenten season creates this moment to participate in the passion of our Lord so as to participate in His glory. Let us, therefore, take our Lenten observances seriously.

Lord our God, grant that we may know the truth that we may be set free. Amen

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke