These are slippery words that Jesus used when, fifteen centuries ahead of Martin Luther, nineteen centuries ahead of Abraham Lincoln, he issued the emancipation proclamation: "If you continue in my word, then you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free."

Slippery words, I said, for when we think we have these concepts, truth and freedom, neatly boxed and wrapped with pretty ribbons, they begin to slip away. The usual baggage we have stuffed inside of them is baggage light enough to handle easily, like carry-ons. We can take it with us in a purse. But on the lips of Jesus they are loaded concepts, heavy (fragile, too), that must be handled with the greatest caution.

But let’s burn off the fog. Truth and freedom are not concepts to be clarified…