What is Exciting About Truth?

A reflection by Mother Cecilia for the Sunday of the Fathers of the 7th Ecumenical Council & for the 1700th Anniversary of the 1st Ecumenical Council

I will admit that, as an artist, of the three transcendentals—truth, goodness and beauty—I am most attracted by beauty, and least by truth! I'm not saying I like untrue things, but I don't get as excited about truth as I do about beauty! However, in coming to understand that truth is not just about facts and information, but that Truth is a Person, I started to have a passion for truth too.

There are various ways in which we are tempted to choose what is not true, and some of them are quite subtle. A lustful thought (or act) may involve a real person and a real act, but it of itself is not true, meaning: it is not about a person given to me by God to love in a real way, with a true gift of self. To imagine something (or to act in a way) that is not true love, will never satisfy! Again, a thought (or act) of acedia may involve a real desire (to "look out my window" and desire a situation or life that is not mine), but it is not true; it is not what God has lovingly placed before me. It will never satisfy! And also, a self-condemning thought is not true. For a person oriented to God, His correction only comes in gentle, encouraging ways, not disturbing, accusatory, condemning ones. So, thoughts that come in this disturbing way do not come from Truth, even if there is something about them that is technically accurate. We are not to listen to these thoughts; we are to look at the Lord who encourages and strengthens us rather than tearing us down. We will never be satisfied or healed by listening to the accusatory thoughts and trying to "correct" ourselves.

What does satisfy and heal? Loving the real person in front of us, given to us by God, in the real way He is calling us; loving God in the real situation in which we find ourselves, by accepting the situation with our will; loving ourselves with God's own love, with patience and humility, courageously ignoring the disturbing voices and trusting in the gaze of the One who is looking at us with love.

Truth is a Person. "I am the way, the truth and the life" (Jn 14:6). He loves us, He fills us. He loves us in and through what is true. And He calls us to share in His love by loving what is real, in real ways. Jesus prayed for us in His great prayer to the Father, "Consecrate them in the truth. Your word is truth" (Jn 17:17).

This past Sunday we commemorated the Fathers of the 7th Ecumenical Council. There are several times throughout the liturgical year that we commemorate the Fathers of the Ecumenical Councils, and this year we celebrate the 1700th anniversary of the 1st Ecumenical Council. Why is this important? The Fathers were not just defining and clarifying pieces of information, they were the defending the truth of the Persons of the Trinity. They were honoring God and helping the people of God to understand who He is and how to live the Christian life. So, we frequently remember them and what they taught us. We always need to renew our faith and love.

Holy Fathers of the Ecumenical Councils, pray to God for us!—that we may love Truth Himself and know ourselves to be loved by Him. 

If you live in NE Ohio, join us for the Eastern Churches Seminar, Nov. 14-15, commemorating the 1700th anniversary of the 1st Ecumenical Council.