A Plea for Truth

As our National Independence Day has come and gone, the state of our country continues to experience turbulent times. Problems that have been thrown onto us (Corona-19) and problems we have thrown onto ourselves (racism and it’s after-effects).

It is also an election year that can bring the noise to a deafening pitch. Through 24/7 news headlines and the blurbs and opinions from our social media feeds from all sides claiming to speak the truth, it can be hard to decipher what is true or not.

This reflection is not a political plea or to give another opinion to the millions already out there, rather, this is more of a plea to a higher truth. A prayer to a higher good.

For there are elements of truth I suppose in the opinions and sides of all rationale and serious people to the problems that we now face. That said, not being open to a larger truth from the confines of our own narrow visions can cause division that oftentimes has its roots in power, manipulation, and fear. Consequently, there is no room for humility and understanding. No room for listening and grace. No room for a deeper truth to seep into our consciousness and ways of seeing and being.

In my Catholic tradition, during every Mass before we say the Lord’s Prayer we utter the words, “And we dare to say…”. We dare to use the words that Jesus himself instructed us to use. We dare to have this prayer transform us. We dare to have our opinions and identities exposed so that we might understand ourselves, others, life, and God in a clearer and more perfect union. We dare to have our truths be exposed to a larger one.

In many ways, our country is still dealing with the problems that were present when we first proclaimed “These truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights…”. We are still dealing with how our individual rights work best within a community of our neighbors.

Over the last six months, there is one thing for sure that has been exposed, that we as a country are very much a work in progress. With that said, just as I too am very much a work in progress, seeking a deeper truth, over time, I turn and pray…

Our Father, Who art in heaven,

Our Father? Who am I leaving out? Those who don’t look like me? Those who don’t act like me? Those who don’t believe in what I believe in? Now more than ever help me see others, regardless of race, creed, and beliefs as my brothers and sisters. Brothers and sisters who together have One Father.

Hallowed be Thy name;

How easily good things can become “hallowed” in my eyes. How easily do political views or movements as “righteous” as they seem them to be, can become the god in which I serve. Pride and power always seem to follow. Help me again to see you as God and God alone.

Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Remind me that “heaven” is today. Here. Now. You are present at these times. You are here in these struggles. To the extent that all of your children are known and loved, dignified by their sheer simple existence, heaven will be felt here on earth, today.

Give us this day our daily bread;

I am grateful for the gift of life. Gift of faith. The gifts of food and shelter. I need nothing else. Help the millions of people who require these most basic gifts. Those who are in desperate need due to both the pandemic and the systems in which we currently live.

And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us;

“What is wrong with the world? I am.”

-G.K. Chesterton

How can I not forgive others when I see the mercy you have given me. How can I not give pardon to those who seek power over others when I look at the times I have done so myself. How can I not forgive those who have injured me when I have injured so many of your children along the way…

“No Peace Without Justice, No Justice Without Forgiveness.”

-St. John Paul II

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

It is easy to look outwardly at all of the temptations that surround me, but the greater temptations always reside in me. Power, pride, ego. To be heard rather than listen. To be served rather than to serve. To look at things selfishly rather than sacrificially. Help me to resist the temptation to deliver me from the problems of this country, rather, deliver me from myself.

Amen.