“What is truth?” This is Pilate’s question to Jesus after their dialogue in today’s Gospel. We know that Jesus is the truth, the way and the life. As the Psalmist says, God’s decrees are trustworthy; his word is true. As the Second Reading states, Jesus is the faithful witness. But are we prepared to accept him as the only truth? Jesus says to Pilate, that those who love the truth, will receive his words. He does not indicate that there are multiple truths, nor versions of the truth. There is only one truth.

Often, the temptation is to live on the periphery of truth and lie, to get comfortable in the grey area of life. Avoiding any extreme is easier and allows us to fit into society more easily. Today’s readings convict us and remind us that there is no time to live on the periphery. The King is coming. The kingdom of God is at hand. At this time, no one will be able to deny the truth, for it is written that every eye will see him – even those who pierced him, denied him and rejected him.

As Christians, our place is not the middle ground. We cannot stand with one foot in the worldly realm and one foot in the heavenly realm. We cannot choose both light and darkness. There is only one or the other. And to convince ourselves that we can do both, is a waste of our time. Hear the urgency in today’s scripture readings. When the clouds part and heaven opens, and the King of heaven arrives in all his glory, would we wish to be found standing with only a half-heart of a devotion to the Lord? Or would we want to be found at the forefront of the battle ground declaring our allegiance to the Kingdom of God?

To recognise the lies, we must know the truth intimately. The more we know Jesus, the more easily we can identify anything that is not of him. The more time we spend with what is real, alive and true, the less we are seized by the work of the deceiver. While facing a reality of ridicule and betrayal, Jesus stood before Pilate, completely confident. He knew the eternal, so the temporary had no grip on him. He knew of the coming glory, and so he was unfazed by the present troubles.

Are we prepared to choose the truth, stand by it, live for it and run after it, over and again? Are we prepared to deny everything and everyone else for the One who reigns? Are we prepared to declare, that we are all in for Jesus, and only Jesus?

PRAYER: Abba Father, I want to seek the truth so I can battle the lies that come my way. I want to know you more. Amen.