Acts 5:27-33 / John 3:31-36
Once upon a time, fake news was like an April Fool's joke.
But now fake new is a serious offence and carries a fine or a jail penalty.
So not everything we hear or read is the truth. Besides fake news, which is obviously an untruth, there are also such things as lies, rumours, slanders, half-truth and distorted truth,
And even on the religious side, when someone says, "God has told me to say this" or "This is what God told me to do", just how are we to believe that?
The saints have said such things. But so did those who were out to cause division and confusion.
Peter said in the 1st reading, "Obedience to God comes before obedience to men. It was the God of our ancestors who raised up Jesus, but it was you who had him executed by hanging on a tree."
Of course we know that Peter was telling the truth, but how would we know then if we were present at that time and listening to that?
If truth sets people free, then we must continue to discern what good is the truth doing and has it stood the test of time.
And if the truth sets us free to strive for holiness, love, forgiveness, compassion and generosity, then that truth would be from God.
Yes, truth and love are like the two sides of a coin. One completes and complements the other.
When we live our lives in truth and love, others will believe in what we say.