November 19: Truth, Love, and Justice Will Prevail

A feature which the four Gospels share is that, near the end of Jesus’ public life, the leaders of both the Jews and the Romans were plotting how to get rid of Him. Jesus was upstaging their authority and accusing them of hypocrisy, greed, and corruption. The chief priests, for example, as members of the ruling Jewish council, the Sanhedrin, wielded great authority. But their exercise of that authority was not going to be easy as the people continued to flock to Jesus. As Luke tells us, “They were hanging on His every word.”

Jesus was unafraid of challenging the leaders of His day, He was the true prophet who had come among the people, God’s messenger, and indeed God’s own Son. He stood then and still stands as a “counter-witness” to all that is against truth, love, and justice. As we draw near to the end of the Church’s Year, the inevitable anger and hostility of those who had power, power based on falsehood, on self-interest, and on injustice will be heard more and more often.

Our Church, in its parish communities and through individuals, is called on to continue that mission of “counter-witness.” It will win us the support and admiration of some, but also the hostility, the anger, and even the violence of others. This is something we should not at all be surprised by, nor something we should try to avoid. Our only concern must be to always speak the truth in love. God will take care of the rest. Because, ultimately, truth, love, and justice will prevail. They always have and they always will.

Let us pray. “Father, we pray for all members of the Church and especially everyone who makes up our parish community, that we heed the words of Christ—“do not be afraid”—and that we will be strengthened by the Holy Spirit’s gift of courage to give witness to the Gospel and share our faith with others. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.”

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