This sermon critiques the popular advice "be true to yourself," arguing it can lead to self-centered decision-making. Using Jesus's parable of the Pharisee and tax collector, the preacher advocates for honest self-knowledge that acknowledges both good and bad aspects of ourselves, seeking God's guidance rather than relying solely on personal instincts. [30th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C]
Not only persistent prayer, but persistent dedication to truth and justice and faith that these might prevail with God's help are required of Christians. This is illustrated by the widow’s relentless demand for justice from the unjust judge. It challenges believers to stand up against injustice, hold truth accountable, and pursue communal truth-seeking, rooted in scripture. Faithfulness and courage are essential when confronting power and injustice in society.
This reflection contrasts truth used as political instrument with truth that liberates the soul. Politicians often curate facts to persuade and gain power; by contrast, the Gospel’s “truth will set you free” describes truths that reshape identity. Using the healed leper as an example, the talk shows how genuine gratitude—especially directed to God—reveals our dependence, exposes entitlement, and transforms how we see ourselves and others. Cultivating gratitude turns gifts into formative experiences, teaching us to speak and live truthfully rather than treat people as means to power. [28th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C]
Reflecting on Naaman’s cleansing and Jesus’ healing of the ten lepers, this homily contrasts merely seeing facts with embracing the truth behind them—the latter can be transformative. That is why one grateful leper was saved—not just healed of his disease. In the same way, in the second reading Paul’s call to hold fast to truth leads to life, and turning away from truth leads nowhere.
This reflection by Megan McElroy, OP explores the need for modern prophets who speak truth to power and challenge complacency. Drawing from scripture and figures like Martin Luther King Jr. and Dorothy Day, McElroy suggests we must each examine whether we're called to be prophets today. True prophets are discerned through their fruits—love, peace, and justice—and their willingness to speak difficult truths despite personal cost.
What can we do about violence against migrants? Out of his experience of walking alongside migrants in the Chicago area and witnessing their plight, Fr. Brendan Curran challenges us to see the violence in our communities and become speakers of truth, inspired by Habakkuk and Pope Leo. For the 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C.
This essay, taken with permission from Let's Talk About Truth (Ave Maria Press, 2020) explores truth as faithfulness in relationships, drawing on the Hebrew concept of "emet" - a word suggesting something stable and trustworthy that "stands on two legs." Unlike Greek philosophical notions of truth as correspondence to reality, biblical truth emphasizes relational fidelity. The author, Ann Garrido, distinguishes this from mere loyalty, emphasizing that being "true" means remaining trustworthy and committed even during disagreement or conflict, not uncritically supporting others' actions. The essay addresses practical challenges like prioritizing relationships within human limitations, navigating difficult relationships, and balancing fidelity with personal integrity. It emphasizes that being true in relationships requires skills for "hanging in" during disagreements while maintaining appropriate boundaries when relationships become harmful or unsustainable.
This essay, taken with permission from the book Let's Talk About Truth (Ave Maria Press, 2020) examines truthfulness in communication, distinguishing between having a mind aligned with reality and having words aligned with one's thoughts. Drawing on Thomas Aquinas, it argues that truthful communication is essential for community and communion, requiring alignment between inner thoughts and spoken words. The author, Ann Garrido, explores the balance between sharing appropriately (neither too much nor too little) and communicating with charity. Key topics include when lying might be justifiable, the problem of hypocrisy as misalignment between words and actions, and the Christian obligation to advocate for truthfulness in society. The essay emphasizes that truthful communication, guided by justice and love, enables genuine relationship-building and societal functioning.
This essay, taken with permission from the book Let's Talk About Truth (Ave Maria Press, 2020), explores how to form good judgments in a "post-truth" society by distinguishing between objective facts and subjective judgments. Using Chris Argyris' "Ladder of Inference" model, it explains how personal experiences, culture, and background shape how we select and interpret data to form opinions. The author, Ann Garrido, emphasizes three key principles for sound moral judgment: remaining grounded in reality, informing one's conscience through education and reflection, and considering impacts on others, especially the vulnerable. For navigating disagreements, the essay recommends assuming good intent, listening deeply, sharing reflectively from one's own perspective, and seeking divine guidance while acknowledging that resolution isn't always possible.
This essay, taken with permission from the book Let's Talk About Truth (Ave Maria Press, 2020) explores truth as both objective reality alignment and an ongoing aspiration. It critiques post-truth skepticism (doubting we can know anything) and relativism (all beliefs equally valid) while affirming that reality exists independently of our beliefs or perceptions. Author Ann Garrido emphasizes reason as God's gift for understanding reality, supporting scientific inquiry as compatible with faith. However, it acknowledges limits to knowledge-seeking when pursued through immoral means or before adequate maturity. The text calls preachers to help congregations embrace truth as both essential for survival and a lifelong practice of intellectual humility and curiosity.
