Denial of Truth is to deny oneself. But definitely, one can choice whether one wants to go with truth or does not want to go with it. But our choices also classify us, in terms of our intentions and character.
Today’s Gospel reading is a logic wrestling match. Those in Jerusalem don’t want to believe Jesus, because the words He choose to refer to himself ‘sound‘ blasphemous. Their understanding of God, in the several centuries preceding them, was shaped by their Babylonian Captivity, reasons attributed to the reasons for going into captivity, a knee jerk resolution to avoid such a situation again, and a sense of spiritual pride. So when Jesus comes and call’s himself Son of God
- They are weighing things according to their assumption of how God addresses humanity (servants).
- So calling themselves Sons/Daughters of God is wrong – in the direct sense. One can refer to God as Father, because He created everyone.
- They have not checked scripture to fully see if Jesus’ claims and statements can be correct or wrong.
Jesus counters their action of picking up stones, by asking them if they have checked his works and the solidity of his teaching. They answer;
- Yes they have checked, but and they find no fault in them.
- But His statement to call Himself Son of God is wrong.
- And for this He needs to be stoned.
Jesus, to set aside their qualms about He calling himself Son of God,
- gives them a scriptural reference (Psalm 82:6) to understand that all those who believe in Yahweh are called Gods,
- hence by association they are his Children also.
Jesus then to correct their faulty way of looking at things says
- It is a choice not to believe, and that is fine
- but what about the signs, wonders and words (works) that He has done/spoken
- Do these testify to the nature of the one who is doing/saying them?
- Check.
- And if Scripture and the fruits of His work attest to God’s Truth
- Then first accept these as coming from God
- And this in turn will help them associate to the Truth that He Is.
Jeremiah says in the First reading there was trouble for him from all sides, and He cried to the Lord and God responded by rescuing Him. So also, you can cry out to Him, and He will come to You.
Choose to Believe.