Freedom without the truth loses its focus to empty caprice

The liturgy of our second Sunday in ordinary time points at Christ as the Truth and key figure in scriptures. It is centered on the following readings: Isaiah 49:3, 5-6; Psalm 40; 1 Corinthians 1:1-3; John 1:29-34. The main theme of the three readings points to the task of evangelization as a human call to the freedom of the children of God. So that all people may put their trust and hope in God, knowing that he cares. The above readings do not stop at telling us who Christ is, but they show us also who we really are in relationship to him and his Father who sent him to us: Christ teaches us that we are God’s people, created free, in the image and likeness of God. Jesus, truly man and truly God teaches us this lesson through his own life. He enters on human scene in a low-key; he did not need to prove to men that he is God. With time, he revealed himself to man; who he is and his mission. He did all this gradually as he springs from the people of Israel apparently in a very natural way; as a man like us in all things except sin; in conformity to his special mission: to ‘seek the lost sheep of the house of Israel,’ give sight to the blind, heal the lame and to set the captives free. Many who followed his teaching and observed his private life questioned the source of his power and freedomIn his mission, Jesus remains true to his human and divine identity. He wanted people to know who he really is and not who they wished him to be. That is why he allows John the Baptist to point him out as the long awaited Messiah. But no one follows him immediately because then he did not fit exactly with the picture of the messiah they liked to see. To his contemporary, in order to fit with the idea they had of the Messiah perhaps Jesus would have arrived carried by cloud. But Jesus wanted to be true to God’s plan as foretold by the prophets; as the Lord’s “servant” sent to “restore the survivors of Israel.” In his entire mission Jesus did never fall prey to the common human failure of doing things in conformity to what others like. Men often avoid doing what is objectively good and right and go for what might be more pleasing to others, either for their own security or freedom. But what they get in the long run is a false security and non liberating freedom. Jesus’ style of his earthly life teaches us of how to be free from such behaviors. On his confrontational encounter with Jesus on the road to Emmaus, St Paul learnt a lesson on true freedom. When Jesus revealed himself to Paul, the latter understood the truth he had missed. Immediately he learnt that it was the truth he had just discovered that would make him free, rather than what he was chasing in vain. His new found freedom was in carrying the same message to the ends of the earth: the truth that would make people free. What is true to Paul is true as well for most of us. In as much as we too have been incorporated in Christ through baptism, we all share in his prophetic mission. We are all called to proclaim Christ by word and by our testimony of life and it is in living this message that we get our freedom. Each one must give his testimony as God wishes him and in all freedom. The Suffering Servant of Isaiah tells us that the Lord formed him as his servant from the womb. Jeremiah says early on that he was called to be a prophet (Jer 1:5). John the Baptist, who leapt in the womb at the Visitation, rejoicing at the presence of the unborn Jesus (Lk 1:41ff) was born to point out to the people who Christ is. And the list can go on as we all tell our stories because all men are created for a purpose. And it is within this context, that our identity, our mission and freedom can have meaning. Our testimony of life requires us to be true to ourselves in all we do and say. If we happen to choose a style of life which makes us drift away from this truth, then our identity slips from Christ who is Truth. And when it happens, in most cases our sense of freedom loses its focus; when the truth is not on our side, freedom becomes debased, alienated and reduced to empty caprice. If we mean to fight for true freedom, we have to follow Christ’s way; then the truth will make us free. Ends