What Is Truth?

School of Athens,What is truth?

What is truth?

At first it seems like an epistemological question, but it's really a metaphysical question with ethical implications.

It seems obvious to me now, that before one can know things, one presupposes metaphysical axioms or principles in the same way we presuppose certain axioms before we do geometry.

Pondering about pondering

Shortly before my reconsecration to Jesus through Mary on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, I made that connection between Pontius Pilate's question "What is truth?" and Jesus, the Truth itself standing before Pilate. It seemed to speak a philosophical proposition to me. It's that which I've written above and put into an image.

At the time, I was preparing for my consecration using Fr. Michael Gaitley's 33 Days to Morning Glory. This was the first time I used 33 days to morning glory. Fr. Gaitley stresses pondering, and it seemed that I was regularly inspired. This sort of thing had not happened with the same intensity since my return to the Catholic Church and started praying the Holy Rosary. Indeed, while praying the Joyful Mysteries, I pondered about Mary's ponderings.
 
An interesting thing about Mary pondering in her heart (Lk 2:17) is that the Greek word translated as 'pondering' is συμβάλλω (sumballó) -- which is where we get the word symbol -- and it means to throw together. The same word is used when St. Paul 'met' or 'engaged in discussion' with the Greek philosophers (Acts 17:18).

So, I find it interesting that in her heart, Mary is putting things together, and I think not only things are put together, but also in a Christian fashion, she is putting people together -- like bringing people to Christ Jesus.

And it actually does seem that when one ponders, one is mentally putting two things together -- one sees how one thing is like another thing in some respect.

A few notes

One post a year is far too infrequent.

But it seems I've found a method. In preparation for the Feast of Our Lady, the second time I've used 33 days, I've been able to post -- for 32 straight days -- a short reflection on the day's assigned pondering. Some days seemed inspired, and some days I had to grind it out. But overall, it seemed fruitful.

It seems that I'm able to unite to the Immaculate Heart in pondering. And that's the reason for the naming of the blog. And I think I can go to any topic under the Sun here. I don't think I'm restricted to religious topics. But I should caution that I am not claiming that Mary or the Holy Spirit are dictating to me what I should write. Rather, I'm doing my best to unite myself to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and I do so that I might be united to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. In other words, I'm trying to think with the Church; I'm trying to think with Jesus. All errors will likely be the result of my selfish attempts to make myself the center of the process. All good that I do will credited to Mary and ultimately to God, the source of all good.

I also expect that I'll make many blunders in grammar, spelling and facts. For me, the perfect is often the enemy of the good, and so I'm going to relax and post stuff that I would ordinarily consider to be rough draft.