A famous movie from a few years back, A Few Good Men, includes a courtroom scene in which the military prosecutor demands from the witness: “I want to know the truth

Holy Trinity TRUTH 6/3/07

The movie A Few Good Men includes a courtroom scene in which the military prosecutor demands from the witness: “I want to know the truth!” The witness bellows back with equal ferocity and disdain, “You can’t handle the truth!” The truth can be hard-to-handle and equally hard to come by. Pontius Pilate , while interrogating Jesus, asks Him: What is truth?” (John 18: 37-38) Pilate, like so many since, failed to stay with Jesus long enough to learn from Him “the truth”!

Sometimes the truth, like reality, is difficult to grasp. I agree with the phrase “Perception is reality”, but do not agree that “Perception is truth”! Just because we perceive something or someone a certain way may make this “perception” “reality,” but not necessarily “true”. We may think we want to know the truth, but denial is a powerful element of our intellect and existence and an oft’ immediate response. Hearing the results of a medical test, learning of an accident injuring or ending the life of a loved one, being told of a substantial raise or promotion or recognition, receiving acceptance to a sought-after university, we commonly respond with disbelief! Hearing the truth, accepting the truth, knowing the truth …this is not easy, and, perhaps, never more so than in our day.

President Harry Truman once asked his closest advisors what would be the results if they were to adopt a certain economic plan. His advisors told the President that, on-one-hand, the economic plan might do this…but, on-the-other- hand, the economic plan might bring about the opposite results. History records that President Truman remarked: “I wish I had a one-armed economist!”

Because the truth is so difficult to identify and discern in many situations day to day, it would sure be helpful to have some sort of guide to assist us. Jesus, the second person of the Trinity, was just such a guide. Jesus told Thomas “I am the Way and the Truth and the Life.” (Jn. 14:6) A few chapters earlier, Jesus said “to the Jews who had believed him…If you hold to my teachings, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (Jn. 8:31-32) Jesus was not only able to know the truth about the people He met---as with the Samaritan woman at the well (Jn. 4:7-29), Nathaniel (Jn. 1: 47-48), Zacchaeus (Lk. 19: 2-9), and Levi (Lk. 5: 27-28)---Jesus identified Himself as the truth.

The focus of our Gospel for Holy Trinity Sunday is upon Jesus’ awareness that the truth would be difficult to determine after He ascended to His Father. He knew what the future held for all who chose to follow Him and prayed about this, as recorded in John 17. Jesus knew He had things to tell His disciples that they could not handle, as we read in John 16:12: “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear.” It is for this reason--- to share the truth with them when they are more able to receive it---that the Holy Spirit comes… “…he will guide you into all truth.” (Jn. 16: 13)

The disciples were saying to Jesus, “We want to know the truth!” and Jesus apparently responds, “You can’t handle the truth!” Not now…not until later on …and the Spirit will reveal this to you! You and I are living in this “not until later on” that Jesus speaks of in our Gospel lesson. On this Holy Trinity occasion, the very doctrine itself…God, in three persons…is revealed in John 16:15…Jesus, the Son, speaking of God the Father, and promising the arrival of God the Holy Spirit… “The Spirit of truth.” The Athanasian Creed declares that no one can be saved unless he/she believes in the Trinity. A contemporary theologian has said of the Trinity: “While the Creed indicates one may be in danger of losing his soul by denying the Trinity, he is in danger of losing his mind trying to understand it.”

A man asked the man next to him on a plane what he was working on. The man replied, “I’m a Pastor and I’m working on Sunday’s sermon.” “Oh, religion,” the man observed. “I don’t like to get all caught up in that stuff. Do unto others as you would have them to unto you, that’s my religion.” “And what,” asked George Buttrick, “do you do, sir?” “I am an astronomer,” he answered. “Oh,” remarked the Pastor, “astronomy. Twinkle, twinkle, little star, that’s my astronomy.”

Accept Christ into your heart. Pray for the dwelling of the Holy Spirit in your life. Seek, discern, and know the truth and never waver from it…so help us God! Amen.