It is the truth that sets us free
Falsehoods and misconceptions about our faith and religious practice confront us
By Steve Hall
A person went to confession and, among other things, confessed their participation in spreading gossip. The priest told the person to get a feather pillow, take it to the roof of the tallest building in town, rip it open and dump out the feathers. When this was accomplished, the person was to return to confession.
Tuesday of the Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time
I Thessalonians 2:1-8
Matthew 23:23-26
It’s unfortunate that Paul doesn’t give us a bit more information about what happened in Philippi, or the rumors that made their way to Thessaloniki, or even the subsequent reaction of the Thessalonians, which Paul seems to be writing against. Nevertheless, it is clear that the stories that originated from Philippi reflected negatively on Paul, and that one or some in the Thessaloniki community were repeating them.
In the previous chapter of this letter, which was also the first chapter, Paul comments most favorably upon their reception of the gospel.
“You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with joy inspired by the Holy Spirit; so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Acha'ia. For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Acha'ia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything.” (1 Thessalonians 1:6-8)
But then Paul turns immediately to his reception in Philippi. That abrupt shift suggests that he is deeply concerned about the reports being spread about the Philippi incident. Paul was not without enemies in the hierarchy of the Jewish community. It is probably for this reason that he seeks to diminish the impact of any rumors.
Our exhortation was not from delusion or impure motives,
nor did it work through deception.
We were judged worthy by God
Nor did we ever appear with flattering speech,
or with a pretext for greed
nor did we seek praise from men,
either from you or from others . . .
It seems reasonable to assume that the reason for these and other statements by Paul were necessitated by the contrary being said of him. Falsehoods and half-truths are difficult to dismiss.
A story comes to mind. A person went to confession and, among other things, confessed to their participation in spreading gossip. The priest instructed the person to obtain a feather pillow, take it to the roof of the tallest building in town, rip it open, and empty out the feathers. When this was accomplished, the person was to return to confession.
The person did as instructed. After explaining that the priest’s instructions had been followed, the priest said: Now, for your penance, go and gather up all the feathers.
The story is usually told with the intention of warning about the evils of gossip and the near impossibility of correcting it. But Paul was on the other side. The gossip was about him. So he resorted to the one thing that could counter the evil done. He reminded the Thessalonians of the truth.
On occasion, we are all confronted with falsehoods and misconceptions about our faith and religious practice. It is then that we need to remember Paul’s example. Anger and frustration get us nowhere. It is the truth that sets us free. Freedom, not just for ourselves and our fellow Christians/Catholics, but freedom as well for the one who has lived with lies.