“Who is the liar? Whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ.” These words from today’s 1st reading show us that lying was a problem in this 1st Century Christian Community. It also seems to be a problem today in our world, in our nation, and even in our Christian communities. We hear today of “alternate facts” instead of the truth. There seems to be a lack of integrity or truthfulness among some political and religious leaders. “Who is the liar?” We as Christians need to put this question to ourselves and to our Christian communities.
In the Gospel of John Pilate cynically asks Jesus: “What is truth?” (John 18:38). The irony here is that truth, Jesus, is standing right in front of him.
“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, then you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” (John 14:6-7).
Since Jesus is truth, the liar is the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ. The issue in 1 John is both belief and practice. The liar or the antichrist is the one who negates the importance of Jesus’ teachings and actions. The liar or antichrist is the one who refuses to follow Jesus’ way of mercy and compassion, his way of service and sacrifice.
The liar or false Christian according to John, James, and Matthew is the one who fails to love the other, who fails to show compassion to those in need, who fails to feed the hungry.
We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us—and we ought to lay down our lives for one another. How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help? Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action. (1 John 3:16-18)
If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and has no food for the day, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well,” but you do not give them the necessities of the body, what good is it? So also faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” (James 2:15-17)
“Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.” (Matthew 25:40)
Let us strive today to be people of truth by witnessing to Jesus by both our words and actions.
Image: “Jesus and Pilate” by Brian Cathcart is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.