TRUTH HAS COME INTO THE WORLD
Looking back at the stable in Bethlehem can seem so far away. It becomes almost fairy tale like. The association of children and our memories lends a sheen of the unreal to the scene. But the reality of what happened there is very much what affects us today. The Child born in that stable became the Man who years later testified that he was the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Unlike every other sage or philosopher, Jesus did not point the way to truth. He claimed He was the Truth.
This is still the central problem of our time and, indeed, of all humanity’s time. In our battle it must be paramount.
In August 1993, St. John Paul II wrote an amazing encyclical- The Splendour of Truth - on the eternal nature of truth and morality. He reiterated that the search for truth is rooted in the human condition as a yearning for absolute truth. That same urge that propelled the pagan Wisemen inspires us even today. The splendour of truth shines forth from deep within the human spirit as clearly as the Star of Bethlehem.
Truth had come into the world – not just my truth or your truth as we so often hear today but THE Truth. Yes, it is sometimes wilfully overlooked, masked or warred against but it exists.
We must work for the truth. Though knowledge and wisdom are gifts of the Holy Spirit, we have all toiled in school and jobs and even life to comprehend and learn and master knowledge and use it to the glory of God. It took work for Joseph and Mary to get to Bethlehem, for Mary to carry the Child in pregnancy, to care and protect and nurture Him.
Our work too must continue. I want to take this article to thank you, our supporters, for contributing to allow the hidden work of our national office to continue so that we can respond to online or telephone inquiries. We have needed you, our financial supporters, to pay for airfare when I went to New Brunswick to speak and preach in the spring.
We operate mostly virtually, but every year you help us to bring our priest Board members together from across the country in Ottawa at the March for Life in May for our face-to-face Board meeting.
Whether answering phone calls for “bedside consultation”, building collaboration between pro-life groups and initiatives, or assisting doctors and nurses and health care professionals to organize and fight for their conscience rights, you have helped in that struggle by your gifts and sacrifices.
Your generosity has allowed us to hire our summer seminarian intern to boost our outreach to priests and deacons across the country and do much needed research to keep up to date about the rapidly changing fields of bioethics and law.
The valiant efforts by pro-lifers to give witness in the 40 Days vigils across our vast country is one that is essential for Priests For Life Canada to support by our being with them to pray and be a fellow witness. Thank you for giving us the means to get there.
Your donations helped Fr. John and I get out to seminaries in Alberta and BC to link up with and encourage seminarians and formators. There will more information to come on those and other upcoming visits to other Canadian seminaries.
Your dollars and prayers are helping us reach international priests who have selflessly volunteered to come and serve here in our Canadian Church. We have decided to try to zero in on two groups for now- Filipino and Nigerian priests - to help to inform and encourage their role and place in the national pro-life battle. This includes international seminarians, too!
All of this is possible because of you our financial and prayerful supporters. Please consider continuing to contribute to and support us in our battle to defend Truth and Life. May all the blessings of the Christ Child be with you this Christmas and always.
Fr. Tom Lynch (PFLC National President)