Today's Gospel Reading
April 4, 2001
John 88:31-42
Jesus went on to say to the Jews who believed 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 really be 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 that part I speak of what I have seen in the Father's presence, but 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."
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Bible Notes
The Truth - Freedom - Sin
Jesus spoke to the Jews who believed in him. Those Jews believed in Jesus according to their own view of him, very much like the Jews whom Paul would oppose in Galatians. From Jesus' discussions with those who claimed to have the true religion, we can surmise how Jesus would confront us were he to pass among us today.
Jesus would not reproach us so much for our sins, as for our continuing to live in sin. Sins are evil deeds that at times may be excusable; often we repent of them as soon as we have commited them. To be in sin, on the other hand, is to live in falsehood; it is to persist stubbornly in a certain pride, an attachement to our own judgements. This attitude prevents us from entering into the ways of God, even though to all appearances we live an upright life and proclaim our faith.
Jesus is not a banner for every social group, whether known as Catholic or by some other name, with which to go to fight other groups. He has come as a king of the kingdom of thruth. Those who seek the truth are his, whatever their ideas may be. Rather, those who live in truth are his.
For those Jews the world was divided into two groups: the sons of Abraham, that is themselves, and the rest. They boasted of their ancestry and forgot that in God's eyes, each one is what he is.
Jesus comes to them as a witness to the truth; and his presence alone obliges all to examine themselves. The truth Jesus speaks of is not a doctrine which his followers should impose by force. Propagandists with arguments and biblical quotations are not needed, but witnesses who speak from their experience. Jesus says: The truth will make you free, and : The Son will make you free. Our truth consists of living in accordance with our vocation as children of God.
The believer who knows he is loved by God and constantly endeavors to be authentic is already in the truth, even if he retains some prejudices common to his millieu, or is unconsciously guided by some lies or illusions in his way of living.
Jesus also speaks of freedom. Truth and freedom go together. Many individuals and peoples have not spared themselves in an effort to break their chains. Once liberated they quickly fall into other forms of subjugation, because the root of all slavery lies within everyone.
By doing evil one becomes an accomplice of the Devil and, even without wanting to do so, falls into a trap. He will then be unable to resist the illusions and harmful influences by which the Father if Lies brings the world under his power.
As long as we continue to be unconcerned about the true condition and are either agitated or idle, we are no more than slaves, even though we may excell in wealth, knowledge or status. We thus add to the population of the world below which is unstable. Generations of slaves will follow the waves of the sea: slaves are people who are for a time in the house. Christ enable us to enter yet another world, the world above in which the sons and daughters stay forever. From the time we become children of God, everything we do bears fruit for eternity.
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WHEN YOU NEED FORGIVENESS
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
(Ephesians 4:32)
WHEN YOU NEED LOVE
And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.
(1 John 4:16)
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| Suggested Readings
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A helpful guide to praising
Praising God Daily
by Fr. Robert DeGrandis, S.S.J.
| A Memory Help: P-R-A-I-S-E
"P" stands for PRIMARY. Praise is primary. Jesus, in His own life, praised the Father and He taught us as His disciples how to pray. "Our Father in heaven..."
Matthew 6:9...
In the book of Revelation, it speaks to us of perfect praise. "All the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They prostrated themselves before the throne, worshiped God, and exclaimed: 'Amen. Blessing and glory, wisdom and thanksgiving, honor, power, and might be to our God forever and ever. Amen'"
Revelation 7:11-12 Now, that is a good prayer. That is perfect sevenfold praise: Blessing, glory, wisdom, thanksgiving, honor,power and might to our God....
more
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Catholic Charismatic Community of The Presentation of the Child Jesus Parish
B.F. Homes Paranaque, Manila Philippines
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