It's a story that takes many forms. A young child goes missing without trace. Or a relative disappears fighting a war in a distant country. Or a wife suspects her husband's affections are elsewhere. Or someone senses the symptoms of a critical illness. All these have one thing in common - a need to know the truth.
When we find out the truth, it can be very unpleasant. Death, affliction, deceit, alienation, disappointment can be painful and sorrowful. Often we try to shelter our friends from reality, from learning too much of the truth. And often we shelter ourselves, not admitting the real situation to our minds.
Shielding others from pain and grief is part of our calling as Christians. The elderly mother dying of cancer does not need to hear that her daughter has just died in a plane crash. And where breaking bad news to someone is inevitable, we can do it gently, and give comfort and support as far as we are able.
But we need to be truthful with ourselves, painful though it may be. For truth is part of the deep nature of God, who in Jesus declared: "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life."
Some of the more difficult parts of the New Testament are the references to violence. "I come not to bring peace," says Jesus, "but a sword". But this sword is the sword of truth, which, razor-sharp and scalpel-like, strips away all that is dead and exposes things - and people - for what they really are.
In the same way, Paul tells us to be armed with the sword of the Spirit, "which is the Word of God". Whether this means Jesus, the Word made flesh, or the expression of God's will for humanity through history and through prophecy, the meaning is clear - that we must make no compromise with falsehood and deceit.
If the truth seems painful, it need not be. God knows it all, has been there and shares the pain. No matter how awful it is, God will not abandon us in the middle of it. Nor will we, if we live as Christians, abandon our neighbours, no matter how distasteful or unpleasant is the truth. This is the message of the prayer we say before our Sunday Eucharist:
Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hidden, cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you and worthily magnify your holy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen - Truly!
HD