April 5, 2017 – WEDNESDAY, 5th Week of Lent
St. Vincent Ferrer, Priest and Missionary
Violet
Dn 3:14 - 20, 91 - 92, 95 / Jn 8:31 - 42
Born in Valencia, St. Vincent Ferrer (1350 - 1419) was a renowned preacher, missionary and theologian.
FROM THE 1ST READING: Dn 3:95
Nebuchadnezzar exclaimed, "Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego who sent his angel 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."
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
In the Gospel reading we see Jesus arguing with the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law. The Jewish leaders have refused to accept Christ and his message, despite the many signs and miracles he had performed; his teaching had undermined their teaching and authority with the people. They claimed that their Father was Abraham. In reply Jesus said that, if they were children of Abraham, they would see the truth and accept him.
In the first reading we see the faith in God shown by the three youths thrown into the fire and saved by their God. They would rather risk death than go against God's law.
We pray that we may have the faith and the courage of the three youths. We also pray not to be proud, stubborn and blind like the Jewish leaders.
WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER INTENTIONS:
BIRTHDAY
JOANNA CAlLEY C. MARANTAN
PRINCESS JASMINE L. MONTEALEGRE
THANKSGIVING
PHILIPPINE BRITISH ASSSURANCE COMPANY INC.
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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