The prayer to the Holy Spirit commences as follows: ‘Heavenly King, Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, who is present everywhere and fills all things…’, showing that truth penetrates everything and is present everywhere at all times and in all places. But what is truth? When Pilate asked Jesus this very question just before the crucifixion, Jesus replied with a resounding silence, as if to show that He is the Way the Truth and the Life (John 14:6).

Rationally, truth may be thought of as a philosophy or some factual proof or statement. However truth cannot be something which changes under different circumstances. Realistically, truth is the way which leads to life – it is Christ Himself – the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8). For this reason Jesus promised His disciples that after his Ascension He would send the Holy Spirit which proceeds from the Father, and this Spirit would testify of the truth, that is, bear witness of Jesus Christ (John 15:26). We can see this clearer in John 16, where Jesus tells His disciples that the Spirit of Truth will guide them into all truth when He has come, and will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment. That is, seek out the righteous (those who believe in Jesus), separate the sinners (or unbelievers) from them and also judge the ruler of this world who is a liar and the father of lies (John 8:44).

Unbearable as it may seem, this means that before the Birth of Jesus the presence of truth on earth was hard to come by. If we rewind back to just after the great flood, when people began to multiply on the face of the earth, we are reminded that they decided to build the tower of Babel. They conceived this idea to possibly safeguard themselves against another catastrophic flood. However this rebellion against God was a deception, a towering lie to justify their sinful way of life, which would only lead to eternal death. The Scripture states that they were given over to a spirit of confusion and scattered abroad over the face of the earth (Genesis 11:9). This is a consequence of the lack of truth.

The same is noticeable today in people who do not seek out truth in their lives. That is, they become confused and are unable to make the right decisions in their life because they do not understand who Jesus Christ really is. In the Old Testament, truth was vouchsafed to a few chosen vessels (the prophets) who were appointed to proclaim the coming of Jesus. Today “the fullness of truth” is available to all who wish “to be saved and to come to the knowledge of truth” (1 Tim 2:4).

Historically this was made manifest on Pentecost, fifty days after the Resurrection, when the Spirit of Truth was sent to kindle the fire of truth in the Church, spreading it to the ends of the earth, liberating and re-uniting all scattered people to the one and only Truth. The Holy Spirit shines the light of Christ in all places and on all things.

Source: June-July 2014 Lychnos Edition