Luke Pearson

Dear Friends,

This morning’s Daily Office Gospel reading for today reminds me of the second verse of a poem, “Truth”, by Stephen Crane. The verse is as follows:

“Truth,” said a traveler,

“Is a breath, a wind,

“A Shadow, a phantom;

“Long have I pursued it,

“But never have I touched,

“The hem of its garment.”

This poem shows truth as being intangible and unattainable. There are fearful images associated with the truth such as shadow and phantoms.

 In today’s Daily Office Gospel reading According to John, the truth of our Savior’s presence and mission is presented to Pilate. After Pilate asks Jesus if he is the King of the Jews, Jesus tells him, “You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” Pilate then asks Christ, “What is truth?”

I imagine that for Pilate the truth of Jesus was to be frightening to realize. The truth of our Lord was right before Pilate, and he was not able to take part in it. In that moment, he could not see the truth, and he could not hear the truth.

Jesus’s truth of love and self-sacrifice for the world is tangible. We read of the truth in the Gospels, and we see it throughout the world. Are we ready to open our ears, hearts, and minds for the truth?

Best,

Luke