Gospel: Jn 8:31-42
Jesus went on to say to the Jews who believed in him “You will be my true disciples, if you keep my word. Then you will know the
truth, and the truth will set you free.” They answered him, “We are the descendants of Abraham and have never been slaves of
anyone. What do you mean by saying: You will be free?” Jesus answered them, “Truly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave. But the
slave doesn’t stay in the house forever; the son stays forever. So, if the Son makes you free, you will be really free. I know that you are the
descendants of Abraham; yet you want to kill me because my word finds no place in you. For my part, I speak of what I have seen in my
Father’s presence, but you do what you have learned from your father.” They answered him, “Our father is Abraham.” Then Jesus said, “If
you were Abraham’s children, you would do as Abraham did. But now you want to kill me, the one who tells you the truth – the truth that
I have learned from God. That is not what Abraham did; what you are doing are the works of your father.”
The Jews said to him, “We are not illegitimate children; we have one Father God.” Jesus replied, “If God were your Father you would
love me, for I came forth from God, and I am here. And I didn’t come by my own decision, but it was he himself who sent me.”
Reflection:
Truth and our reception of the truth is what sets us free. It is not dependent
on blood relations or other human conventions such as status, education and wealth.
Freedom in its basic sense is freedom of movement, expression and freedom
to dream and realize one’s dreams to the best of one’s capacities. But there is a
kind of freedom that is not dependent on any of these. It is the inner freedom of the
person to be. This freedom starts with the confrontation of truth. This is the freedom
that Jesus tries to bring to others. He leads them to the truth. Sadly, truth is so lonely
in this world. That is why His audience engages Him in verbal combat. They cannot
accept the truth that it is through Jesus that they can realize their deepest freedom.
They cling to their status as Abraham’s children, the chosen of God. Hence their
privileged status because of God’s gracious love becomes an obstacle to know the Truth
of God before them.
© Copyright Bible Diary 2021