Daily Mass Readings + Gospel Reflection - John 8: 31-42 - March 29, 2023 - Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Lent

Daily Mass Readings + Gospel Reflection - John 8: 31-42 - March 29, 2023 - Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Lent





    Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Lent
    Lectionary: 253

    Reading 1


    Dn 3:14-20, 91-92, 95
    King Nebuchadnezzar said:
    ""Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego,
    that you will not serve my god,
    or worship the golden statue that I set up?
    Be ready now to fall down and worship the statue I had made,
    whenever you hear the sound of the trumpet,
    flute, lyre, harp, psaltery, bagpipe,
    and all the other musical instruments;
    otherwise, you shall be instantly cast into the white-hot furnace;
    and who is the God who can deliver you out of my hands?""
    Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered King Nebuchadnezzar,
    ""There is no need for us to defend ourselves before you
    in this matter.
    If our God, whom we serve,
    can save us from the white-hot furnace
    and from your hands, O king, may he save us!
    But even if he will not, know, O king,
    that we will not serve your god
    or worship the golden statue that you set up.""

    King Nebuchadnezzar's face became livid with utter rage
    against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
    He ordered the furnace to be heated seven times more than usual
    and had some of the strongest men in his army
    bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego
    and cast them into the white-hot furnace.

    Nebuchadnezzar rose in haste and asked his nobles,
    ""Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?""
    ""Assuredly, O king,"" they answered.
    ""But,"" he replied, ""I see four men unfettered and unhurt,
    walking in the fire, and the fourth looks like a son of God.""
    Nebuchadnezzar exclaimed,
    ""Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego,
    who sent his angel to deliver the servants who trusted in him;
    they disobeyed the royal command and yielded their bodies
    rather than serve or worship any god
    except their own God.""

    Responsorial Psalm


    Daniel 3:52, 53, 54, 55, 56

    R. (52b)  Glory and praise for ever!

    "Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers,
    praiseworthy and exalted above all forever;
    And blessed is your holy and glorious name,
    praiseworthy and exalted above all for all ages."

    R. Glory and praise for ever!

    "Blessed are you in the temple of your holy glory,
    praiseworthy and exalted above all forever.

    R. Glory and praise for ever!

    "Blessed are you on the throne of your kingdom,
    praiseworthy and exalted above all forever."

    R. Glory and praise for ever!

    "Blessed are you who look into the depths
    from your throne upon the cherubim;
    praiseworthy and exalted above all forever."

    R. Glory and praise for ever!

    "Blessed are you in the firmament of heaven,
    praiseworthy and glorious forever."

    R. Glory and praise for ever!

    Verse Before the Gospel
    See Lk 8:15
    Blessed are they who have kept the word with a generous heart
    and yield a harvest through perseverance.

    Gospel


    Jn 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."

    Gospel Reflection

    In today's Gospel passage, Jesus tells his followers that true discipleship involves more than simply believing in him. He tells them, "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."

    To remain in Jesus' word means to not only believe in him but to also follow his teachings and live a life of holiness. It involves a daily commitment to love God and love others, to seek forgiveness for our sins, and to strive for spiritual growth.

    Jesus promises that if we remain in his word, we will know the truth, and the truth will set us free. This truth is not just an intellectual knowledge but rather a personal encounter with Jesus himself. It is the truth that frees us from our sins and brings us into deeper relationship with God.

    In the Gospel passage, Jesus encounters the Jews who were not able to understand his teachings because they were blinded by their own beliefs and traditions. They believed that their adherence to the law and their status as descendants of Abraham were enough to save them. However, Jesus challenges them to let go of their pride and surrender to him as the true source of freedom and salvation.

    As Catholics, we are called to remain in Jesus' word and to let go of our own pride and desires. We are called to surrender to him and follow his teachings, even when they may be difficult or unpopular. Through this surrender, we will encounter the truth of Jesus and the freedom that he offers.

    Let us pray that we may remain in Jesus' word and seek to know the truth that will set us free. May we surrender our hearts to him and strive to live a life of holiness and love for God and others.


    Prayer

    Heavenly Father, we come before you today with hearts filled with gratitude and hope, reflecting on the powerful message in John 8:31-42. We thank you for your infinite love and guidance as we strive to follow your ways and teachings each day.

    Lord Jesus, you tell us that the truth will set us free. We pray for the grace to always seek the truth and to recognize it when it is present in our lives. Help us to embrace the truth, even when it challenges us or forces us to change. Help us to resist the lies and deceit that often surround us in our world today.

    We also pray for the strength to resist temptation and sin, which can lead us away from your truth and your love. May we always turn to you in times of trial and temptation, seeking your mercy and forgiveness when we falter.

    We ask that you guide us on our journey of faith and that you help us to be witnesses of your love and truth to those around us. May we always strive to honor you in everything we do, and may we be a light to others, pointing them to the truth that leads to eternal life with you.

    We offer these prayers through the intercession of Mary, Our Mother, and in the name of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

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