What is truth?

Today’s first reading seems very confusing: the story of dueling prophets: each ostensibly speaking in the name of the Lord. How are the people to know which prophet is truly sent by God?

The prophet Jeremiah says the best way to determine whether a prophecy is from God, if it is a prophecy of future events, is to see whether the events actually take place. That may seem like circular argumentation: it is true prophecy if it comes true.

The real problem is that people have gotten confused about what prophecy is. Many people think that prophecy is foretelling. To be sure, prophecy many times involves things that have not yet taken place, but that is not the essence of prophecy. Very simply, prophecy is speaking for God.

Even when the prophecy touches on events in the past or events that have not happened yet, the fundamental reality of every prophecy is God speaking to his people in the here-and-now: the people who heard the prophecy when Jeremiah first spoke it and the people who have heard the prophecy in every generation since.

The intent of prophecy is always to draw God’s people to walk more closely with God. Hananiah is a false prophet, giving false comfort to the people, allowing them to be content with the status quo. Jeremiah is a true prophet of the Lord, challenging the people to be strong and faithful in the face of difficulties.

The world today is full of false prophets, with empty words, false promises, and comforts full of deadly treachery.

Listen for the true word of the Lord, respond to his challenge, and be faithful to Him.