Gospel: "The Truth Will Set You Free"

G O S P E L

In many ways, I think John 8:31-32, the start of our Gospel Reading today, is the heart of John’s Gospel as it draws together so many of the themes of the Gospel – abiding in God’s Word, truth, freedom, discipleship, learning and so on. Let us pray for the grace to abide or live in God’s Word so that the truth will always be a part of our life and consequently true freedom as well. This is what a disciple’s life should look like.

VERSE BEFORE THE GOSPEL
Blessed are they who have kept the word with a generous heart and yield a harvest through perseverance.

John 8:31-42
31 Jesus then said to those Jews who believed in him, “If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, 32and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 33 They answered him, “We are descendants of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How can you say, ‘You will become free’?” 34 Jesus answered them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin. 35 A slave does not remain in a household forever, but a son always remains. 36 So if a son frees you, then you will truly be free. 37 I know that you are descendants of Abraham. But you are trying to kill me, because my word has no room among you. 38 I tell you what I have seen in the Father’s presence; then do what you have heard from the Father.” 39 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. 40But 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.41 You are doing the works of your father!” So they said to him, “We are not illegitimate. We have one Father, God.” 42 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.”

my reflections
t h i n k : This is the benefit of living a holy life – you will actually look forward to and embrace death as the beginning of a new and better life.