When Jesus was interrogated by Pontius Pilate before he was condemned to death, he clearly stated his life’s purpose: “For this was I born, for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.”
But Pilate just sneered at him and said, “What is truth?” (Jn 18:37-38) In other words, he was saying, “Truth! What does that mean?”
Pilate, like many prominent leaders of his day, was a skeptic when it came to the notion of truth. He moved about in the circles of a very pragmatic, power-hungry, dog-eat-dog world where the only truth resided in the blade of a sword or the upper hand gained in the intrigues of politics. So Jesus refused to respond to his cynical question, and the interrogation was abruptly terminated.
That account takes place in the Passion according to Saint John, which is proclaimed on Good Friday. In Saint Luke’s version, however, Pilate sent Jesus off to Herod, who was in Jerusalem for Passover, to get rid of him. Herod was thrilled to have Jesus in his presence. He had wanted to see him for a long time since he had heard so much about him. He was certainly hoping that Jesus would perform a miracle for his entertainment. Of course, he was not interested in the truth either, just in a spectacle. So Jesus also refused to respond to him.
Earlier in the Gospels, Jesus had performed many miracles, but the leaders of the Jews would ask Jesus to perform a special miracle just for themselves as proof of his stature. It was clear by that time that no such sign would bring them to faith. It would only feed into their power play to have their demands met. Since they really had no interest in the truth, neither would Jesus fulfill their request.
The Church clearly teaches, “God is the source of all truth.” (CCC 2465) In addition, the Church says, “In Jesus Christ, the whole of God’s truth has been made manifest.” (CCC 2466)
We can come to some knowledge of the truth about God through the light of reason alone, as demonstrated in scholastic philosophy. Saint Paul supports that view in his Letter to the Romans, in which he stated, “Ever since the creation of the world, God’s invisible attributes of eternal power and divinity have been able to be understood and perceived in what he has made.” (1:20) In other words, we can use our intellect and sensory evidence to discern the existence of God. This is accomplished through a careful observation and analysis of our world.
However, something more is required for us to come to a knowledge of God’s truth manifested in Jesus. We need the light of faith and the guidance of Divine Revelation. This revelation includes Sacred Tradition, Sacred Scripture and the Magisterium (official teaching office) of the Church working together in unison.
So then, faith and reason are two ways to come to a knowledge of all truth, both natural and supernatural.
Saint John Paul II, in the introduction to his encyclical, “Fides et Ratio,” said, “Faith and reason are like two wings on which the human spirit rises to the contemplation of truth.”
Even though divine truths cannot be known by reason alone, that is not to say they are unreasonable. The terms and processes of scholastic philosophy can help us understand to a degree the mysteries of theology. Such an exercise can even help us increase our faith. In that regard, Saint Augustine said, “I understand that I may believe.”
However, a serious problem arises and thinking becomes muddled when traditional philosophy is ignored or denied. Such a philosophy unequivocally teaches that truth is the correlation of the mind with reality. But when people start claiming that you have your truth and I have mine, then we are not talking about truth at all, but merely opinions. Everything becomes subjective, and egos, easily wounded. Such a faulty system can force a brilliant jurist to hesitate to give a simple scientific definition for the term “woman” or a biologist to claim there are only two genders. It leads to distinguished guest speakers being shouted down by unruly crowds at universities and unable to communicate their points of view.
As committed Catholics and good citizens, we must combat such dangerous trends by doing all we can to insure that the best candidates are elected or appointed to important positions in government and education. Remember, it has been said that the only thing necessary for evil to prevail is for good people to do nothing.
On this Good Friday, let us begin to focus more intensely on Jesus, who is Truth itself, so that truth about our lives and our world may be restored and respected. “If you remain in my word,” Jesus said, “you will truly be my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32)
Father Edward Kolla is a retired priest of the Diocese.
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