Tuesday, March 15, 2016
16 March 2016
16 March 2016
Wednesday, 5th Week of Lent
Violet.
Dn 3:14–20, 91–92, 95 / Jn 8:31 – 42
From the 1st Reading: Dn 3:95
Nebuchadnezzar exclaimed, "Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego who sent his angels to free his servants who, trusting in him, disobeyed the king's order and preferred to give their bodies to the fire rather than serve and worship any other god but their God."
From the Gospel Reading: 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 make 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 the 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
Freedom is a frequently misunderstood concept. On the surface, it appears to be the lack of restrictions or limits. To obtain this type of freedom, many of us resort to words like, "Leave me alone," or "Let me do as I want." But these do not always lead to true freedom, as Jesus points out in the Gospel today.
It is sin – committed in defiance of the laws that God laid down for our own protection – that ensnares and enslaves us. And it is truth, a life lived in the light, that brings real freedom.
As we reflect on the gospel today, let us examine our lives and assess how freely we are living it. Do we build ourselves prisons out of our favorite sins, done covertly under the guise of unfettered living of our lives? Or do we constantly choose the path of right living, that we may walk in the light, unafraid and truly free?
WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER DIARY INTENTIONS:
BIRTHDAY
Rhea R. Reyes
Susan G. Ang
IN MEMORIAM (+)
Aimee Santos Ocampo (Birthday)
Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers and for those who need our prayers the most.
Have a good day!
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