WEDNESDAY OF THE FIFTH WEEK OF LENT - Gospel (John 8:31-42) - THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

“If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and am here.” (Jn 8:42)

FIRST READING - Dn 3:14-20, 91-92, 95

A reading from the Book of Daniel

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."

GOSPEL OF THE DAY - Jn 8:31-42

From the Gospel according to John

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."

WEDNESDAY OF THE FIFTH WEEK OF LENT - Gospel (John 8:31-42)

THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

Dear People of God,

Today's Word of God tells humanity that Jesus always loves us.

He knows that the darkness of human hearts has been infiltrated by Satan to tempt mankind to walk in Satan's darkness, making humanity unable to recognize the light of God, unable to acknowledge the teachings of Jesus as the truth, the life, and the light that guides us on the path to the House of God the Father.

However, there are still some people who are guided by the Spirit of God. They know how to open their hearts, believe, and accept the true Word of Jesus, which comes from God the Father, the Word that brings eternal life.

Jesus reveals that those who believe in His Word as the truth and the life will be saved, freed from the hands of Satan, freed from the slavery of sin, and will no longer be enslaved to Satan. Therefore, those who believe and follow His Word will be set free, become His children, become His disciples, and live in His heart forever.

Jesus introduced to mankind that it was God the Father who sent Him to earth to manifest God the Father’s love for humanity and to fulfill the promise made to Abraham, known as the father of mankind.

Abraham was considered righteous by God because he believed and obeyed all of God's commandments.

Now, God the Father sent Jesus Christ, the Second Person of God, to earth to become a human being to keep the Covenant with the patriarchs to bring life and the light of God to free the children of Abraham from the power and captivity of Satan.

This is the truth that comes from God the Father. Those who believe and follow God's commandments will live forever with God the Father, to be with Abraham, a righteous man.

As for those who do not open their hearts and deliberately choose not to believe the teachings of Jesus, both in the past and in the present, God gives them freedom. They are free to belong to the world, to be slaves of Satan. They will not be children of God, nor will they attain the privilege of seeing His holy presence in Heaven.

Thanks be to God. Amen.