MORAL STORIES

THE FLYING PIG

St. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274), one of the greatest philosophers and theologians of Christianity and a ‘Doctor of the Church’ is the patron saint of Universities, colleges and schools. He was very sincere, innocent, truthful and studious from early life and led a pure and saintly life. While he was a seminarian, his colleagues used to make fun of him and call him the nick-name, ‘dumb ox’.

One day, one of the monks told the saint that there was a pig flying around in the air over the courtyard and invited him to look out through the window to see the flying pig.

The saint promptly went to the window and looked out. The monk then laughed at him. But the saint said sternly, “I would rather believe that a pig could fly than that a monk could lie”. This incident is quoted to reveal his zeal for truthfulness.

A journalist was speeding on his motor cycle along a highway. He saw a large crowd on the road-side. Obviously it was an accident. He wanted to collect the details and report the news to his office at the earliest.

He stopped the bike and tried to move into the crowd to observe the victim of the accident, but he could not make a way. So he tried to play a trick by telling a lie. He cried aloud, “Please let me in. It is my mother lying there. I must save her. Please let me in!”

Hearing his cry, the people moved to either side and gave him a way to go in. He squeezed himself into the crowd, crying. He was happy that he could fool everyone. At the centre of the crowd, he met a street dog, hit by a car, badly wounded and lying in a pool of blood. The people laughed at him. He escaped, ashamed.

A true Christian should not tell a lie even if telling the truth may cause loss, suffering or pain. We should not tell a lie even if telling the lie may give us money, power or pleasure. St. Paul advises, "No more lying, then! Everyone must tell the truth to his fellow-believer, because we are all members together in the body of Christ" {Ephesians 4: 25}.

“Lying is an ugly blot on a person’s character, but ignorant people do it all the time. A thief is better than a habitual liar, but both are headed for ruin. A liar has no honour. He lives in constant disgrace.” {Sirach 20:24-26}.

“Honest people will lead a full, happy life” {Proverbs 28:20}.

Jesus said, "You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free" {John 8: 32}.

By: Dr. Babu Philip, Professor, Cochin University of Science & Technology, Fine Arts Avenue, Kochi-682016, Kerala, India.

This is Story No. 148 in this site. Please click ‘Older Posts’ at the bottom of a page to read previous stories and click 'Newer Posts' at the bottom of a page to read newer stories in this site. Please click on a word in the 'Story Themes' to read stories on that theme.