Truth To Power

Today’s readings are about “speaking truth to power,” and what is truth?  This phrase originated with the Quakers in a 1955, pamphlet entitled: Speak Truth to Power: A Quaker Search for an Alternative to Violence.”  I happen to be a birthright Quaker or Friend as well as a Catholic deacon.  Good combination, although I’ve never been much of a Quaker, unlike my grandparents on my father’s side.

That pamphlet promoted pacifism in the belief that love can overcome hatred.  It has come to mean "speaking out to those in authority" and is now used in politics and human rights activism. We Catholics can learn something from the Quakers.  Politics and religion do mix at times. 

In our first reading Isaiah speaks truth to power.  Isaiah speaks of acts of defiance against oppressors and tyrants – acts of defiance by those with no power, such as the poor, the dispossessed, and the weak. Yet, to resist with whatever little force we have seems fruitless and can result in punishment by those in control, perhaps even death, or in Jesus time, crucifixion. “Resistance is futile” is the mantra of several movies, books, and TV shows such as Star Trek: Next Generation.

But is resistance really futile?  No it’s not.  There are acts of defiance and non-violent resistance to those in authority – to power – encouraged by Isaiah and used by Jesus and his followers.

Isaiah said, “I gave my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who plucked my beard; my face I did not shield from buffets and spitting.  The Lord GOD is my help, therefore I am not disgraced; I have set my face like flint, knowing that I shall not be put to shame.”…I shall not be put to shame…

Isaiah reminds us of Senator John McCain who endured years of imprisonment and torture during the Vietnam War when he was shot down and captured by the North Vietnamese.  His face was like flint not giving into his captors.  He refused to be shamed. He was buffeted and broken, but the Lord God was with him and gave him the grace not to yield to his tormentors.

When we set our faces like flint, we speak the truth to power.  We steel ourselves to speak up to protest and call out those in power and who control us and affect our daily lives.

When struck against steel, a flint edge produces sparks to start a fire.  Backpackers and campers know the value of fire-starters made of flint.  Setting our faces like flint gives us the fire and strength to confront lies, fight injustice, and deal with cruelty and hurtful shaming – something young people, especially teenagers, have to deal with on social media.

There’s another way to set our faces like flint – to set our souls on fire and not be put to shame.   It’s when we do as described in our second reading from James who said: “What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone says he has faith but does not have works?  Can that faith save him?  If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and has no food for the day, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well," but you do not give them the necessities of the body, what good is it?   So also faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”

We shame ourselves when we don’t act on our faith – to do those good works such as those done by our many ministries at Christ the King.  Most importantly and according to James, without works our faith is dead!

Consider: A watch may have a great face, but if it doesn’t tell time it is useless.  A fruit tree may be teeming with blossoms, but if it doesn’t produce fruit it is useless.  A lamp may be beautifully shaped and attractive to the eye, but if it doesn’t give light it is worthless.  And a faith that doesn’t result in good works is dead. The fruit of prayer is faith. The fruit of faith is love. The fruit of love is service. And the fruit of service is peace. [Anonymous]

In our Gospel we hear Jesus ask his disciples: “Who do you say that I am?” We can almost hear Jesus asking us that same question: “Who am I to you?”  Some us may respond you are about love, service and peace.  Some might say you help us confront evil and give us the courage to say: “Get behind me Satan!”

Some would say you are the way we deal with suffering. You were the suffering servant, and we use you as our model.  He is all of that to each and every one of us. He is the lion of Judah and the Lamb of God.

We end with a familiar poem geared more towards the children here this morning and the child that still remains within every adult.

Mary had a little lamb; its fleece was white as snow, and everywhere that Mary went, the lamb was sure to go.  He followed her to school one day — that was against the rule.  It made the children laugh and play to see a lamb at school.

And so the Teacher turned him out, but still he lingered near, and waited patiently about, till Mary did appear.  And then he ran to her and laid his head upon her arm, as if he said — “I’m not afraid — you’ll shield me from all harm.”

“What makes the lamb love Mary so,” the little children cry; 

“O, Mary loves the lamb you know,” the Teacher did reply. “And you each gentle animal in confidence may bind, and make them follow at your call, if you are always kind.”

Being kind is a splendid example of doing good works.   It’s as simple as that.

We began by asking, “What is the truth?”  The answer is kindness and love.  We are reminded of this truth at the end of our Gospel that reads: “For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the gospel will save it."

When we choose kindness and when we love as Jesus commands, we save our lives.  There is no greater truth.  There is no greater power.

Deacon David Pierce