The Truth

 Dear Friends,
  In order to help my patients I need them to tell me the truth. Some of them have forgotten the 8th commandment: “Thou shall not bear false witness against thy neighbor.” Because I want to help my patients that have come down with the lying disease, I hope that you answer my questions with complete honesty. Let’s see:

1. A MEMBER OF YOUR FAMILY BOUGHT A NEW MOTORCYCLE, OR A DRESS OR A HOUSE, OR WHATEVER. HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN IT TO YOUR FRIENDS?
         A. I tell them what it’s really like.
         B. I tell a few lies, making things look better than what they really are so that my friends envy me.
         C. I make up some big story, exaggerating everything, even though I know that I am going too far.

2. YOUR MOM OR DAD CAUGHT YOU DOING SOMETHING YOU SHOULDN’T BE DOING. HOW DO YOU REACT?
       C. I blame someone else or try to prove with lies that I’m innocent.
       A. I say I’m sorry and promise to not do it again.
       B. I put on a sad face, and I even cry if I can, so that they have pity on me and don’t correct me.

3. YOU ARE WITH A GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT ARE JOKING AROUND ABOUT HOLY THINGS. IF THEY ASK YOU IF YOU BELIEVE IN GOD AND GO TO MASS, WHAT DO YOU TELL THEM?
         B. I act like I didn’t hear the question so that I don’t have to answer them, because I’m embarrassed to say that I believe in God.
         A. I tell the truth, even though they might laugh at me.
         C. I join the group of enemies of Jesus even though I still believe in God deep down.

4. YOU GET A BAD GRADE ON A TEST BECAUSE YOU DIDN’T STUDY ENOUGH AND YOUR PARENTS ASK YOU ABOUT THE RESULTS. WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THEM?
         B. I try to make up excuses by saying that the teacher put something on the test that he hadn’t explained in class.
         C. I put on a smile and say that I think I did well, even though I know that I am lying.
         A. I say that I didn’t do well and that I am going to study harder next time.

5. YOU SAW ONE OF YOUR FRIENDS TEARING SOMETHING UP, OR PAINTING GRAFFITI ON THE WALL, OR STEALING SOMETHING, OR DOING SOMETHING ELSE THAT HE SHOULDN’T DO. WHAT DO YOU DO?
       C. I give him new ideas so that he can keep on getting into mischief. I don’t want to lose his friendship so I say anything but the truth.
         A. I tell him the truth about what I think, that what he is doing is wrong and he should stop.
         B. I laugh with him about what he did, but I am sure that I shouldn’t do such things.

Solutions:

(A) Thanks be to God! There are still people who tell the truth like you! This is great! I am so proud of you because you always try to practice the 8th commandment: “Thou shall not bear false witness against thy neighbor.” Remember that we are obliged not to tell lies ever and to always look for the truth. If you tell the truth you will also be simple. And if you are simple, your soul will be very pleasing to God and to others, because the truth is a reflection of God. Thank you for telling the truth!

(B) Let’s see, my friend! Let’s see what is happening with you! Don’t you know that lying makes man like the devil? Make it a habit to never lie on purpose, or to excuse yourself, or for any other reason. And in order to do that you have to have God present in your life. God is the truth, you can never deceive Him because there is nothing hidden from His gaze. Don’t be afraid to tell the truth even if that means that it might be hard sometimes. Don’t be afraid to lose a friend for telling him the truth. Lying is what makes true friendship impossible. He who tells the truth always wins in God’s eyes. Meditate on these words that Jesus said, “I am the Way, the TRUTH, and the Life.” (Jn 14:6)

Try to always say things like they really
are without lying or exaggerating.

©HM ZOOM+ 57 October/November 2008