...Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." ... John 8:31b-32

When I was a child, we listened to the radio regularly. On Sunday evenings there was a program with Ronald Colman and his wife, Benita Hume. Considered one of the best radio comedies of the time, the Halls of Ivy was broadcast on the radio from June 1949 until June 1952, when it went onto television for another two years. The Halls of Ivy followed with wit and wisdom, the daily life of William Todhunter Hall, the college president of the fictitious Ivy College and his wife Victoria, a former actress of the British stage. Each week, they would take a controversial subject, work through the implications, and come to an agreement as to a solution to the problem. The college motto was the Bible verse stated above, "You shall know the truth, and the truth will set you free". It became one of my favorite verses.

We hear a lot about truth and freedom. Before the crucifixion of Jesus, Pilate asked the crowd, "What is truth?" These days it may be even more difficult to ascertain what exactly is the truth. Just today, we heard about three different hoaxes involving military and terrorists. At one time, we could read the newspapers, and an unbiased press would give the facts. We could listen to reports on the radio and television and hear the news conveyed in a fair and equitable manner. We now have commentators, who profess to be reporters, on both sides of the aisle, each giving spin to news stories, and employing their personal opinions, some more malevolent and fraudulent than others. Thomas Jefferson said, "Difference of opinion leads to enquiry, and enquiry to truth." At one time, we could discuss politics without fear of alienation or recriminations. This no longer seems possible. Just before our election in November, people were attacked and injured for proclaiming their allegiance to a candidate. At one time, the truth was respected, not corrupted or disparaged. This is a time to put aside our personal and political differences and promote what is best for our country, standing in unity against those who would destroy us, both at home and abroad.

As for the definition of "freedom" ... if you have some time, go to your favorite search engine and put in that word. You will find thousands of quotes and definitions. Here are several, choose your favorite, or add one of your own:

Douglas MacArthur: "No man is entitled to the blessings of freedom unless he be vigilant in its preservation."
 
John Milton: "None can love freedom but good men; the rest love not freedom, but license, which never hath more scope than under tyrants."
 
Thomas Paine: "Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must undergo the fatigues of supporting it."
 
Thomas Sowell: "Force is the antithesis of freedom, but force must be used, if only to defend against other force."

Generally, if something is marked as "free", it is taken to mean "without cost". We all know that this is not necessarily true. The "free gift" often does come with strings attached. Freedom carries with it a great deal of responsibility. Freedom is not really free. It does come with a heavy cost - lives, money, uncertainty. Women and men for many generations have paid dearly for freedom for themselves and others, with possessions, time and even their lives, in peacetime as well as in wartime. What we want for ourselves, we must extend to others. What we value, we must pay for. What we hold as truth, we must defend.

We gather together to ask the Lord's blessing,
He chastens and hastens His will to make known.
The wicked oppressing, now cease them from distressing,
Sing praises to his name, He forgets not His own.
 
Beside us to guide us our God with us joining,
Ordaining, maintaining His Kingdom divine,
So, from the beginning, battle we are winning,
The Lord is on our side, the Glory divine.
 
We all do extol thee our leader in battle,
And pray that thou still our defender will be,
May thy congregation escape tribulation,
Thy name be ever praised, O Lord make us free.
     Lord, make us free! Amen.

Contributed by Rosemary S.
Published Sunday February 6, 2005
Week 11 of Liturgical Year A