3/20/2024 (Wednesday) Today’s gospel reading: John 8:31-42
31 “If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples,
32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
33 They answered him, “We are descendants of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How can you say, ‘You will become free’?”
34 Jesus answered them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin.
35 A slave does not remain in a household forever, but a son always remains.
36 So if the Son frees you, then you will truly be free.
37 I know that you are descendants of Abraham. But you are trying to kill me, because my word has no room among you.
38 I tell you what I have seen in the Father’s presence; then do what you have heard from the Father.”
39 They answered and said to him, “Our father is Abraham.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would be doing the works of Abraham.
40 But now you are trying to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God; Abraham did not do this.
41 You are doing the works of your father!” So they said to him, “We were not born of fornication. We have one Father, God.”
42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and am here; I did not come on my own, but he sent me.”
3/20/2024 (Wednesday) Today’s gospel reflection / homily / sermon: John 8:31-42
In the gospel reading above, we hear Jesus emphasizing the paramount importance of abiding in His word to truly be His disciples. He offers us a beacon of light on the path to freedom, truth, and spiritual liberation. With unwavering clarity, he declares, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” These words are not merely an invitation but a call to a deep, transformative relationship with truth itself.
To abide in Jesus’ word means to live, dwell, and remain within the essence of His teachings, allowing them to shape our thoughts, actions, and very being. This commitment to living in truth is what differentiates a genuine disciple. It’s a journey of continuous growth, learning, and unlearning, challenging us to rise above the superficiality of worldly illusions to embrace the eternal and the real.
The freedom Jesus speaks of transcends physical or societal chains; it’s a liberation of the heart and mind from the shackles of sin, fear, and ignorance. In recognizing Jesus as the source of truth, we find the key to true freedom. This freedom empowers us to live lives of purpose, love, and service, unburdened by the weight of our past mistakes or the fear of judgment.
Jesus’ dialogue with the Jews reveals a fundamental truth about spiritual lineage and freedom. It’s not our biological descent or external affiliations that define our relationship with God but our willingness to hear, accept, and live out the truth of His word.
In a world brimming with falsehoods and fleeting satisfactions, Jesus offers us a constant and unshakable foundation in His word. Let us then strive to be true disciples, anchored in the truth of Jesus’ teachings, and experience the unparalleled freedom and peace that comes from knowing and living the truth. In doing so, we become beacons of light, love, and liberation in a world that desperately needs it.
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