The Spirit of Truth
AM Psalm 25 • PM Psalm 9, 15
Job 12:1-6,13-25 • Acts 11:19-30 • John 8:21-32
“O Heavenly King, the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, Who art everywhere and fillest all things; Treasury of Blessings, and Giver of Life—come and abide in us, and cleanse us from every impurity, and save our souls, O Good One.” In the Eastern Orthodox tradition, this prayer, along with a few others, come together to form what is known as the “usual beginning,” in that they form the introduction to many other services of worship. This invocation to the Holy Spirit—the Spirit of Truth—works to illustrate Christ’s discourse in the Gospel of John, wherein he declares “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”
The difficulty is that we don’t always like the truth—or rather, what we think the truth is, about ourselves, or about what we see around us. We don’t always want to admit the truth. However, the Holy Spirit brings clarity when we are ready to confess the truth. The Episcopal priest Julia Gatta writes that “for centuries the Church has provided a safe place to tell the truth about our pained and troubled self, bringing the shadowy side into the light.” The truth can be painful, but its expression brings liberation. Seeking truth, and being bearers of truth, upholds the fulness of our vocation as disciples of Christ; as the former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams once said, “truth makes love possible; love makes truth bearable.” This happens solely because Christ, as the source of truth, is also the source of love. Truth and love are united to bring together and soften the shattered images we have of ourselves, and heal the brokenness of those around us.
Written by Nathan John Haydon
Nathan earned his PhD in English studying medieval literature and languages from the University of Arkansas. He’s an Episcopal priest, adjunct professor, Benedictine oblate, and a lover of cats and coffee. In 2021 he moved from Fayetteville, Arkansas to St Louis with his super smart scientist wife, Kathryn.