Apostolic Nuncio to Nazarene devotees: Don’t tell lies

MANILA, Philippines — Archbishop Charles Brown, the Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines, reminded the Catholic faithful not to tell lies because the devil is the “father of lies.”

Brown relayed this message during his homily on Jan. 2 during the Novena Masses at the Quiapo Church in preparation for the Feast Day of Jesus Nazareno on Jan. 9.

According to CBCPNews, the Apostolic Nuncio told the Nazareno devotees to always tell the truth because “by loving the truth, we love Jesus.”

Telling the truth is essential in order to achieve peace and harmony in one’s life.

“As Catholics, as devotees of Jesus Nazareno, we need to be on guard against lies. The devil is the ‘father of lies’ and ‘Jesus is the truth,’” Brown said.

He added, “That means we shouldn’t tell lies. When we tell lies, when we say things that aren’t true, we are not following Jesus Nazareno; we are following the ‘father of lies’.”

Telling lies is also not compatible with following Jesus, he said.

Aside from being a moral obligation, saying what is true is also essential in order to build good relationships in communities.

“Whether private citizens or government officials, all people must love the truth sincerely,” he said, adding that, “if we love the truth, we love Jesus. And when we love the truth, we will obtain that peace and harmony.”

Brown also called on the faithful to base prosperity and good relationships on truth. “If we want prosperity, if we want good relationships with each other, we need to base that on truth.”