Jesus invites us to know the Father through the Son and in the Holy Spirit

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Father Perry D. Leiker, pastor.

By Father Perry D. Leiker, pastor
A reflection on the daily readings by Father Perry.
+ “Quid est veritas?” — “What is truth?”
+ This is the answer Pilate gives to Jesus at the latter’s trial after he has just spoken these words: “Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”
+ This is one of those lines that scholars have debated as to what it exactly means.
Some say Pilate was mocking the ridiculousness of the “trial,” and others say he was truly asking a philosophical question.
It hasn’t been solved, and it won’t be solved here.
But, granting that it may and probably does have multiple meanings, or at least possibilities, what might it suggest to us?
The reflection from 1 John presents a blunt look at lying and truth-telling, or being in the lie or in the truth.
“It ain’t so just because you say it is so.”
No! What makes something “so” is that there is authentic truth in it.
Sin is a pretty clear indicator of living a lie. And sin always corrupts. And sin always produces and resides in darkness.
Jesus, the “light of the world,” came precisely to eradicate the darkness and to expose all to “the light.”
+ Herod in today’s Gospel personifies the darkness.
In the shadow of the Moses/pharaoh story, we see sin and darkness played out again.
Herod’s fear, jealousy and ruthless reaction to the “possible threat” of someone else being able to usurp his throne, the king goes crazy and orders out of his sinful spirit the huge sin of mass murder of infants!
Wow! In the shadow of the birth of him who brought the light and who was the light, we receive via Herod the dark shadow of sin, hate and, murder.
“Quid est veritas?” “What is truth?”
Jesus answers that question as he stands before Pilate.
He reveals himself as the true revelation of God his Father, and invites us to know the Father through the Son and in the Holy Spirit.
“Quid est veritas?” Each must hear and decide for themselves.
Father Perry D. Leiker is the 14th pastor of St. Bernard Catholic Church. Reach him at (323) 255-6142. Email Father Perry at pleiker@stbernard-church.com. Follow Father Perry on Twitter: @MrDeano76.
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