Beware of half truths

WORD 2day: Friday, 5th week in Ordinary time

February 12, 2021: Genesis 3:1-8; Mark 7: 31-37

We see a striking similarity in the claims of both the Satan and the Lord, in the Word today. 

Do what I say and your eyes will be opened, says the serpent. 

Ephatha, Be opened, says the Lord to the deaf ears of the man. 

Both take place...but the latter opens to fullness of life, while the former to destruction of life.

Today in our situations of daily life we don't deliberately choose the evil, the lie, the destruction of life... we are deceived by the look-alikes. The evil one taunts us with lies which look like truth, while they are really half truths. The insistence on autonomy of individuals, need for self actualisation, the attraction of successful living - these are presented as ideals to be pursued! They look so good and we may tend to believe this is what the Lord made us for! But unfortunately a major part of humanity is today deceived by these half truths.

Yes, they are half truths, unless they are conceived, interpreted and presented in relation to the other half  - love for the other, common good, human solidarity and universal harmony! These are the complements that make the reality of creation, truly what it was conceived to be by the Creator! We would understand that if only we open our ears to the cries of the poor and the marginalised, the wailing of the crumbling creation, the mourning of the suffering part of the humanity - ephatha...be opened, says the Word to our deafened spiritual ears.

Half truths are more dangerous than the plain lies; they can make one walk one's own way to perdition. It is important that we remain faithful to the truths taught to us, clarify them further and deepen them instead of being carried away by the fancy teachings and fantastic claims.