Daily Readings - Wed Apr 10 2019
John
31Therefore, Jesus said to those Jews who believed in him: "If you will abide in my word, you will truly be my disciples32And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.33They answered him: "We are the offspring of Abraham, and we have never been a slave to anyone. How can you say, ‘You shall be set free?’ 34Jesus answered them: "Amen, amen, I say to you, that everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin35Now the slave does not abide in the house for eternity. Yet the Son does abide in eternity36Therefore, if the Son has set you free, then you will truly be free37I know that you are sons of Abraham. But you are seeking to kill me, because my word has not taken hold in you38I speak what I have seen with my Father. And you do what you have seen with your father.39They responded and said to him, "Abraham is our father." Jesus said to them: "If you are the sons of Abraham, then do the works of Abraham40But now you are seeking to kill me, a man who has spoken the truth to you, which I have heard from God. This is not what Abraham did41You do the works of your father." Therefore, they said to him: "We were not born out of fornication. We have one father: God.42Then Jesus said to them: "If God were your father, certainly you would love me. For I proceeded and came from God. For I did not come from myself, but he sent me
Sermon
In today’s Gospel, Jesus engages in a profound dialogue with the Jews who believed in him, offering a message of liberation through faith. He begins by promising that abiding in his word will lead to true discipleship and freedom through truth. The Jews, however, challenge this, claiming descent from Abraham and asserting they have never been enslaved. Jesus responds by highlighting that sin enslaves, but through him, true freedom is possible. The conversation escalates as they argue about their lineage, with Jesus urging them to act like Abraham and love him as a child of God.
This exchange is set against a backdrop of tension between Jesus and the Pharisees, who often questioned his authority. Jesus emphasizes that freedom is not merely physical but spiritual, achievable by embracing his teachings. This freedom allows believers to live as God’s children, guided by love and truth, rather than sin. The passage underscores the importance of actions over claims, challenging us to embody our faith in our daily lives.
In reflection, we are reminded that true freedom is found in living according to God’s will, liberated from sin’s shackles. Like the Jews, we may face spiritual enslavement, but through faith, we can find liberation. Let us strive to live as children of God, demonstrating our commitment through love and truth, thereby experiencing the freedom Jesus offers.