Ed Van Buskirk returns to The Catholic Morning Show to continue the Ten Commandments series with a striking reflection on the Eighth Commandment, "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor." Using the unforgettable image of a lie as a wind-blown dandelion that scatters and multiplies, he shows how falsehood enslaves us and damages relationships, while truth restores oneness and harmony. Drawing on St. Thomas Aquinas and Christ's declaration "I am the way, the truth, and the life," Van Buskirk calls listeners to humility, honesty, and the freedom found in living in the light.
The walk through the Ten Commandments continues on The Catholic Morning Show as Ed Van Buskirk joins host Deacon Mark Campbell to explore the Eighth Commandment: "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor."
Van Buskirk contrasts truth and lies, explaining how a single lie binds us, makes us a "slave to a lie," and — like a dandelion gone to seed — blows in the wind and multiplies, creating chaos, distrust, and isolation. He cites St. Thomas Aquinas on the necessity of mutual confidence for human community and points to Satan as the father of lies in the Garden. The remedy, he says, begins with stopping the lie, then humbly admitting it, making amends, and restoring the relationship. Reflecting on Christ's words "I am the way, the truth, and the life" and Jesus' prayer in Gethsemane to "consecrate them in the truth," Van Buskirk reminds listeners that truth is holy and sacred — and that nothing hidden stays hidden, so it is far better to bring our sins, even sins of omission, into the light of God's mercy now.
Commandment number nine is up next week. Learn more about Ed Van Buskirk's work at GodsRecipe.org.
Listen to The Catholic Morning Show weekdays at 7:00 a.m. Central on the Iowa Catholic Radio Network, at IowaCatholicRadio.com, or on the Iowa Catholic Radio app.
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