The truth is hard to swallow

Matthew 26:57-68

           There is an expression "I hate to tell you this" and it is almost always followed by something bad, derogatory or points out a personal flaw.  We certainly are a stiff necked people though because we really hate to hear the truth. It seems we'd rather cling to some really stupid ideas or beliefs rather than admit we are wrong. But wrong we are and way too often.

            Jesus is giving the Scribes a Pharisees quite a great deal of ammunition. Jesus speaks the truth and very often it wasn't flattering and it meant the scribes and Pharisees couldn't see the nose on their faces. They refused to get it. They refused to be open to God's word and only wanted their version of what they believed God was saying.  I think we all know that God did not create innumerable laws, strictures, rules  and rubrics to 'help' us on our journey to salvation. To the contrary, Jesus gave two great commandments and that was it. Those two might actually be harder to obey in many cases but Jesus gave us the final arbiter as well, love.

               I had a  brother in law who used 'the truth' as a license to be rude and mean to people of all sorts. I'm not sure if he ever changed but that is not the truth I am talking about. I am speaking of truths of love, truths of God's revealed world in science and faith. I am speaking the truth of love. 

               In case of the right wingnuts versus gay marriage? The truth is that when judging a loving, committed relationship compared to the false witnesses of selective Scripture reading and bad, narrowly defined translations, the love leans in favour of the loving committed relationships.  It is God's way right out of Genesis (man should not be alone) and witnessed by the 'rampant' homosexuality in his created animal world for us to learn from.

           The truth is there and the love is there and the Spirit of love is moving humanity to a better and fuller expression of God's loving plan and design. Sometimes the truth is hard to face.  Jesus already said his piece many times against the scribes and Pharisees. It's hard to believe people still argue so vehemently against the truth.

            Let us not wallow in our own ignorance.

Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas the high priest, in whose house the scribes and the elders had gathered. But Peter was following him at a distance, as far as the courtyard of the high priest; and going inside, he sat with the guards in order to see how this would end. Now the chief priests and the whole council were looking for false testimony against Jesus so that they might put him to death, but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. At last two came forward and said, ‘This fellow said, “I am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it in three days.” ’ The high priest stood up and said, ‘Have you no answer? What is it that they testify against you?’ But Jesus was silent. Then the high priest said to him, ‘I put you under oath before the living God, tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.’ Jesus said to him, ‘You have said so. But I tell you,
From now on you will see the Son of Man
   seated at the right hand of Power
   and coming on the clouds of heaven.’
Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, ‘He has blasphemed! Why do we still need witnesses? You have now heard his blasphemy. What is your verdict?’ They answered, ‘He deserves death.’ Then they spat in his face and struck him; and some slapped him, saying, ‘Prophesy to us, you Messiah! Who is it that struck you?’