|
Truth Tellers
Franciso is a good friend of mine whom I talk with quite often. But there are times when he can be obnoxious. You see, Francisco and I grew up together, so he knows the real me. He knows my weaknesses, my strengths, the things I like and enjoy and the things I hate. Whenever I need to process something, I phone him and say, “I need you to set me straight.” He listens. He gives his opinion. He has a way of making me pause and think. Then comes the scary part - he knows how to push my button. I get upset because his response is something I do not want to hear because he is right. I would fume and simply just want to get rid of him. So, what do I do? I hang up the phone.
I share this because the just man in the first reading and Jesus in the gospel face similar difficulties. In both readings people want to get rid of them, not because they are doing something wrong, but because the just man and Jesus are living God-centered lives. And the presence of a Godly person often reveals the lack of godliness around them.
The Book of Wisdom repeats the threats that are whispered about a person whose name we never know. What we do know is that he is just, meaning he is doing what God wants. His life is God-centered. Wisdom says that people are tired of him. They say: “he is obnoxious to us.” They want to get rid of him. Why? Simply because he listens to God as he prays and is dedicated to God’s truth and that shakes people up. When a holy person is in our midst, we either become inspired by their example and try to live a more God-centered life or try to get rid of them so that we are not reminded of how much we need to change.
In today’s gospel, Jesus faces the same threat. He says: “The Son of Man will be handed over to men and they will kill him.” Why would they want to do that? He has done good things. He has done good works in the name of His Father. He healed the sick. He fed the hungry. He ate with the outcast, He welcomed, forgave, embraced, and loved them. He spoke the truth, and people could not stand it. Because as long as Jesus was in their midst and living a God-centered life, it became clear that they were just the opposite. The people in the Gospel had a choice. They could either change their life to be more Christ-like or crucify Him.
Now let us ask ourselves. Have you ever found yourself in the position of my friend, or the just man in the first reading or Jesus? Have you ever been called obnoxious simply for doing what is right or saying the truth or following God’s will as you understand it. We must admit, we are all human beings, which means we regularly do things that are wrong. We mess up. We tick people off. But then there are also times when people are upset with us because, in fact, we are doing what is right - it happens in families, in relationships, in churches, it happens in life. It happened to Jesus, to the just man and my friend. Sometimes we become the target not because we are wrong but because we are trying to become God- centered and Christ-focused.
But there is another question for us. How do we manage the truth tellers and the truth doers in our own lives, especially when they begin to annoy us? Saints are never easy to live with. There is an old saying: “Saints are holy people and the people who live with the saints are called martyrs.” I am sure there are parents, children, spouses, co-workers, neighbors, friends, who regularly stir us up simply because their good example gives us a stark choice - do I chase this good person away or do I let their good example call me to deeper conversion in Jesus?
If we pay attention to Jesus’ presence in our lives, His presence will stir us up to deal with truth. If we pay attention to His presence, our lives are changed.
Today, at the Eucharistic table, Christ is here. He nourishes us with His Word and with the sacrament of His Body and Blood. And He invites us to be like Him-truth tellers like all the saints. The question is: Are we ready to be nourished by the truth of Jesus?
| 
