Walk With Me

The Truth Will Set Us Free

One Saturday afternoon, I went to the Mercury Drug to buy some stuff and then went to Dunkin Donuts to eat my snacks. Upon going to Dunkin Donuts, I noticed two beautiful ladies well-dressed, standing in front of HBC, and smiling to the people who pass by. So I told myself, "Maybe you can approach them after your snacks." After I had my snacks, I passed by again to where the ladies were. This time I looked intently at them, there I saw how they distributed pamphlets, booklets, and other materials from their rack. I looked a little closer, I saw it was Jehovah's Witnesses' preaching materials. Upon realizing what they were doing, I was agitated. (Imagine right in front of Sto. Domingo Church a cult is blatantly misleading the innocent!) I went straight to them then started a conversation (of course in a most charming way). I told them, "May I ask you questions?" Then they replied, "Sure!"

From there, I asked two questions then the second question I threw to them was, "Who is Jesus? Is he a God?" They responded, "Hmmm. No, he is not god but he is of God the first born of all creatures." Then I countered, "Now if Jesus is not God then how can you two explain Thomas' exclamation when he saw the risen Christ? Thomas said to Jesus, 'My Lord and my God!' Also, whenever the prophets prophecy, they say, 'Thus says the Lord.' And when Jesus states his authority, he says, 'I say to you.' Now, how can you explain all these things?" Then the two alluring Jehovah's Witnesses were stunned and -placed themselves in a very rare position of the discussion- said, "Ganun talaga, iba iba ng paniniwala."

Today's gospel speaks of the Jesus' divinity. It is written, "Truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am." This excerpt points us back to the burning bush in Exodus 3:14 which says, "I am who am." Well, it is common to us that Jesus Christ is fully human and fully divine. There is no question regarding that. Yes, Jesus Christ is God. So what?

The reality that Jesus Christ is God is the truth. If this is the truth then we should primarily follow the teachings that Jesus had told us. As His children, how do we uphold that truth that He is asking of us? We are Christians, it is true. But do we defend our very name? We give recollections, retreats, talks, but do we uphold Jesus -the truth whom we should inhabit? The God whom we follow is an honest God. He revealed His identity, justice, and mercy. Jesus is never afraid of adversities because He knows that he bears the truth and only with this truth that he can liberate souls who have been enslaved.

If we want to be free and hopefully give freedom to others, then we need to treat ourselves as honest as we can. If we are sick, seek a doctor. If we are unhappy, then we don't fake our smile. If we really want to help, then we help. If there are more doubts than answers, if there are more lies than honesty, may we go back to Jesus so that he may help us become the person he wants of us. Amen.