Wednesday of the Fifth Week in Lent 2020
Dear Friends,
United with each one of you in prayer and love. I have remembered you in my Mass today. The Mass Intention, for Wednesday 1st April is Ellie Forker,RIP.
Gospel Reading from Saint John 8: 31-42.
Jesus said to those Jews who believed in him, “If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” They answered him, “We are descendants of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How can you say, ‘You will become free’?” Jesus answered them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin. A slave does not remain in a household forever, but a son always remains. So if the Son frees you, then you will truly be free. I know that you are descendants of Abraham. But you are trying to kill me, because my word has no room among you.
I tell you what I have seen in the Father’s presence; then do what you have heard from the Father.” 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. 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. You are doing the works of your father!” So they said to him, “We were not born of fornication. We have one Father, God.” 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.”
Today’s Gospel treats the theme of the relationship of Jesus with Abraham, the Father of the People of God. John tries to help the communities understand how Jesus places himself within the whole history of the People of God. He helps them to perceive the difference that existed between Jesus and the Jews, and also the Jews and the others, as all of us are sons and daughters of Abraham.
The liberty which comes from fidelity to the word of Jesus. Jesus affirms to the Jews: “If you make My word your home you will indeed be My disciples; you will come to know the truth and the truth will set you free”. To be a disciple of Jesus is the same as opening oneself to God. The words of Jesus are in reality words of God. They communicate the truth, because they make things known as they are in the eyes of God and not in the eyes of the Pharisees. Later, during the Last Supper, Jesus will teach the same thing to the disciples.
My friends allow yourselves to be opened to Gods will for you at this time! Non of us know what God has in store for us, Jesus the Son of the Eternal Father knows the Fathers will and that will is the will you and I need to follow at all cost. So if the Son sets you free, you will indeed be free”. Jesus is the son and remains in the house of his Father.
Jesus, so desires for us to be free, he wants to give us his Spirit, Truth and Freedom! Are we ready willing and able to accept these gifts from a god who only wants to love us?
Lets stay strong and safe, united in love and prayer with you all
Fr John