Though each was partly in the right
And all were in the wrong !!

Our “scientific pursuit of truth” is clearly consistent with this fragmented and subjective “discovery” of truth so vividly described by the poet. We are familiar with the many debates (sometimes, so heated) which are carried on at different levels. The astronomers, from their limited scientific perspective assert that the universe began with “The Big Bang” They conveniently ignore the question: Who or What caused this Big Bang? The evolutionists assert, with equal emphasis that all reality has evolved from some primaeval “soup” They do not, of course, tell us from where this primaeval soup evolved or how it got there in the first place.

We are all familiar with the recent debate on “intelligent design.” The evolutionists (not necessarily limited to Darwinists) insist that there is no need to posit any Intelligence outside or beyond observable phenomena to make sense of the world. They are prepared to fight expensive legal battles to prevent others from teaching that beyond all observable and tangible realities there is some Reality which is beyond our limited capacity to comprehend. They cannot “see” the elephant because their perception is limited either to the tail or the tusk or the trunk…

The Age of Enlightenment is, ironically, the Dark Age. How else can one explain the proliferation of the occult practices which are becoming more and more prevalent in advanced and highly educated societies? How can one explain the almost dogmatic belief in the influence of the stars and planets on human affairs? Astrological predictions are as common (and acceptable) as astronomical predictions. The popularity of astrological forecasts in daily newspapers, in women’s magazines and in many periodicals is testimony to the gullibility of our so-called enlightened, scientific generation in accepting the possibility that obscure and undefined and unscientific beliefs have influence on their daily lives. They are ready to believe in the Tarot Card but not in the Bible.

For the discerning person it becomes increasingly clear that there are those who have eyes but who refuse to see, and those who have ears yet refuse to hear. (Jer.5: 21)

Mankind has always had a deep yearning to know the truth. – not only about himself, but also about everything around him. Philosophy or the love of knowledge (philo= love; Sophia=knowledge) has been the characteristic of human societies from the beginning of history. Science is as natural to human nature as is eating. What food is to the body, science and philosophy are to the Mind. Those who propagate the view that there is a conflict between science and philosophy simply do not know what they are talking about. They are the blind leading the blind. Similarly, those who claim that science is incompatible with religion are like the frog who was convinced that he could swallow a cow.

While the most eminent minds in human history have grappled with the problems associated with Reality or Truth, there has been universal acknowledgement of the fact that the Only Reality, which encompasses all comprehensible realities is beyond human comprehension. There is the very graphic story about St. Augustine , who, while he was pacing up and down on the seashore trying hard to understand the mystery of the Trinity, saw a young boy trying to empty the entire ocean into a small hole which he had dug in the sand. The truth struck him like a thunderbolt. It is simply not possible for the finite human mind to understand the Infinite Truth.

All scientific knowledge is like the partial “observations” of the six wise (but blind) men of Indostan. The poet wisely observes that each was partly in the right and all were in the wrong. It is time that our scientists acknowledged that the truths which they have discovered are but mere fragments of The Truth – they are only parts of the elephant; not the whole elephant. The sad thing is that some of these very “scientific” persons, who only “know” part of Reality, strongly condemn the dogmatism of those who assert that there is Reality beyond known reality. In total contradiction of their own ground rules of scientific investigation, they go beyond their areas of competence to deny the existence of God or of other non-tangible realities.

In sharp contrast to this arrogance, we witness the humility of the three Wise Men who followed a star and were brought to the manger where the One True Reality was born of human flesh. He became Man so that men might become God (St. Augustine). The unfathomable love of God for His creation, and for the apex of His creation – Man – is precisely that – unfathomable. It will always remain a tantalizing mystery.

The mystery of the Incarnation which we commemorate on Christmas Day is not something that we can understand. It is the celebration of the goodness of God, Who condescended to reveal to us His own Eternal and Incomprehensible Reality. When the Apostles asked Jesus to show them the Father, He simply asserted that He and the Father are one; and that anyone who sees Him, sees the Father. “All things have been delivered to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and any one to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” (Matt.11: 27.)

There is a concerted and systematic effort to create a conflict between religion and society. This takes many forms, some blatant and some devious. Among the more blatant means is the assertion that religion is a purely private enterprise, and that there should be no public display of any religious symbols, such as the crucifix or the crib or any statue. These anti-religionists go as far as to assert that religion is harmful to society. They cite surveys and studies to show that societies where religious practices are vibrant are actually more dysfunctional and criminally inclined than societies which are irreligious and secular. Among the more subtle strategies of these folks is the effort to secularize Christmas and Easter – the two most significant and most important of the Christian feasts. The commercialization of these two key “feasts” of the Church is clearly intended to divert the attention of the people from the true meaning of these feasts. There are many who now believe that Christmas is the celebration of the birth of a big fat man in red costume and white beard (who goes Ho! Ho! ) and who employs elves in his factory in the Arctic region and who provides gifts to children (The so-called gifts are NOT free; but the children do not know this. They have to be bought at exorbitant prices!) Christmas time is the season for manufacturers of toys and sweets (and greeting cards) to reap their financial harvest. The profound effect that the birth of Jesus has had (and is still having) on human civilization is sought to be marginalized in the consciousness of the ordinary citizen. Similarly, the feast of Easter is deviously (devilishly?) associated with eggs and fertility cults by those who want to divert the people’s attention from the profound mystery of mankind’s redemption.

The secular agenda is clearly in conflict with the mission of Jesus Christ. As Christians, we have a serious obligation to push back the tide of “secularism” (which, in effect, is anti-Christian and anti-human), and preach the gospel of the Incarnation and Redemption.

Men are not only hungry for the Truth. They are also starved for Goodness and Beauty. In fact, there is no truth without goodness and without beauty. The human person is created to know truth; to be good and to enjoy beauty. The fullness of creation will reveal the fullness of the Eternal Word of God, who is the Way, the Truth and the Life. (John 14:6).

The present age is an age of death and darkness – an age which has glorified the killing of children in their mothers’ wombs in the name of women’s rights; an age which uses women as mere sexual commodities; an age in which the girl child is looked down upon as a financial liability for her parents; an age in which prostitution is paraded as a commercial occupation; an age in which the aged, the infirm and the disabled are clinically murdered in the name of mercy killing. At Christmas, and throughout the following year/s, we are called upon to proclaim the culture of Life. Christians, by their baptism are committed to proclaim the Good News of Salvation to all the people. We do not have to be eminent philosophers or erudite theologians. Jesus thanked His “Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to babes; yes, Father, for such was thy gracious will.” (Matt. 11: 25)

Christmas is the time when men must come to terms with the Eternal Truth. It has long been recognized that men, by their own intellectual efforts cannot come to the knowledge of the truth. God, in His infinite mercy, bridged this gap and revealed Himself to us in human form, so that we might be able to understand.

For many people, (intellectuals and others) “the truth” is perceived to be an object of scientific investigation. We have become presumptuous and arrogant enough to set ourselves up as the arbiters of what constitutes the “truth.” We have set ourselves up as the final authorities of “the truth.” St Thomas Aquinas tells us that “the truth” is not a formula, nor is it an object. Truth is A Person – Jesus Christ, Son of the Eternal Father. He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. When we encounter this Truth, the only correct attitude is that of the Magi and of the shepherds – to kneel in adoration before the Magnificence of the Mystery of God made Human.