The truth hurts, the old saying goes and, like most old sayings, it's the truth.

Most of us, even the most eager of truth-seekers, will admit that there are certain things we would just as soon forget. They can range from little truths...like recognizing how we really could do more around the house...to very big truths...like admitting how greedy and selfish we’ve become.

A whole lot of energy is spent on this truth-avoiding agenda. Our advertising industry would quickly fold up and die if we all decided we only wanted to hear the truth.

Our religious practices are part of this truth-denying, as well. Examples abound. They range from the obvious to the dangerously subtle but they are usually in abundance every Sunday morning.

Divine mandates to love our enemies, or forgive those who have hurt us, or care for the poor, or reach out to the sick, or liberate the oppressed are all passed over as fast as the preacher can say the words.

Too many of us see religion as a pacifier for the turmoil that surrounds us. The truth is, according to Jesus: We are called to make trouble. We are called to disturb the peace. We are called to point a finger at the lies used to deceive us and that’s the sort of thing that can get us into a whale of trouble.