Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Lent
Lectionary: 253
Lectionary: 253
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."
"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
PsalmDN 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!
"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 GospelSEE LK 8:15
Blessed are they who have kept the word with a generous heart
and yield a harvest through perseverance.
and yield a harvest through perseverance.
GospelJN 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."
"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."
Meditation: "The truth will make you free"
Do you know the joy, peace, and freedom which God offers
to those who trust in him and obey his word? God sent his Son, the Lord Jesus
Christ, to bring us God's kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy
Spirit (Romans 14:17). Jesus came to rescue us from our sinful pride and
slavery to sin. He came to rescue us from Satan's snares and the clutches of
hell, and to free us from the world's temptation to empty glory and lust for
greed and power. Only Jesus can truly set us free and reconcile us with God -
every other way falls short of God's plan to save and deliver us from death,
corruption, and sin.
Why did the religious authorities reject Jesus's offer
of freedom, forgiveness, and new life in the kingdom of God? Despite Jesus'
numerous signs and miracles, the Jewish authorities could not accept his claim
to speak and act in the name of his heavenly Father. They were blinded by their
misguided ideas of how the Messiah would restore Israel and rule the earth. And
Jesus revealed to them how Satan had led them into temptation - both to reject
him as the Messiah and to thwart his claim by killing him.
Jesus met their opposition and hostility with courage
and determination to do his Father's will. He willingly embraced the cross in
order to destroy the works of Satan and to save both Jews and Gentiles through
his atoning sacrifice for the sin of the world. Jesus shows us the way to the
kingdom of God - through faith and obedience to God's word and will for our
lives. To be a follower and disciple of the Lord Jesus requires faith and
obedience - they are two sides of the same coin. The word disciple literally
means one who learns from the Master and who listens to
the voice of the Teacher. And the word for obedience literally
means to listen under and be subordinate to the one who has
rightful authority to teach and command what is just and true.
The free gift of faith
How can we grow in faith and discipleship - by faithfully following the Lord and obeying his word. Faith is a free supernatural gift of God. It is more than just a belief in the truths of God. It is first and foremost a personal relationship of trust and obedience to the Lord and his word. The Lord is worthy of our complete trust and wholehearted devotion because he is utterly reliable, just and true, and he is faithful to his word. That is why we can entrust our lives to him and submit to him without reservation.
How can we grow in faith and discipleship - by faithfully following the Lord and obeying his word. Faith is a free supernatural gift of God. It is more than just a belief in the truths of God. It is first and foremost a personal relationship of trust and obedience to the Lord and his word. The Lord is worthy of our complete trust and wholehearted devotion because he is utterly reliable, just and true, and he is faithful to his word. That is why we can entrust our lives to him and submit to him without reservation.
God does not leave us in the dark or remain distant
and silent. He reveals himself to all who earnestly seek him and hunger for his
truth. God, in fact, first seeks us out and draws us to himself. We could not
find him if he did not first seek to reveal himself to us. That is why we need
to respond to God's gracious gift of invitation with an open and receptive
heart that wants to listen, learn, and receive what God wishes to give us. Saint
Augustine of Hippo (354-430 AD) said,
"I believe, in order to understand - and I understand, the better to
believe" (Sermon 43:7,9).
The test of faith
In the Old Testament Book of Daniel we see a remarkable example of faith being put to the test in the midst of trial and adversity. When Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, the three young companions of Daniel, were commanded by the king of Persia to bow down and submit to the pagan idols of his nation, they unhesitatingly said, "We will not serve your gods or worship the golden image which you have set up" (Daniel 3:18). They knew God's command, "Do not worship false idols"(Exodus 20:3-6; Deuteronomy 12:29-31). They decided it was far better to obey God and entrust their lives to him rather than give in to the threats of others. God gave them courage to take a bold stand for their faith. They willingly accepted the King's punishment as they were bound and thrown into a burning fiery furnace.
In the Old Testament Book of Daniel we see a remarkable example of faith being put to the test in the midst of trial and adversity. When Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, the three young companions of Daniel, were commanded by the king of Persia to bow down and submit to the pagan idols of his nation, they unhesitatingly said, "We will not serve your gods or worship the golden image which you have set up" (Daniel 3:18). They knew God's command, "Do not worship false idols"(Exodus 20:3-6; Deuteronomy 12:29-31). They decided it was far better to obey God and entrust their lives to him rather than give in to the threats of others. God gave them courage to take a bold stand for their faith. They willingly accepted the King's punishment as they were bound and thrown into a burning fiery furnace.
Daniel tells us how God was very present to these
three young men as they proclaimed their faith in him. God showed his presence
to the three men and walked with them in the fiery furnace. As a remarkable
sign of God's power to the pagan rulers of Persia, God kept the three men from
harm and delivered them from death (Daniel
3:25,28). Do you trust in God to give you his help
and strength when your faith is put to the test?
True and false sources of identity
The scribes and Pharisees, who were the religious authorities of the Jews, questioned Jesus' authority to speak and act in God's name. They questioned Jesus' claim to forgive sins and to set people free from slavery to sin. They understood that only God had power to forgive sins and to release people from their burden of guilt and shame. They refused to accept that Jesus' authority was given to him by his Father in heaven. Jesus tells them that they think evil of him and desire to kill him because they are under the influence and power of the "father of lies" who is opposed to the one true Father and Creator who made us in his image and likeness (Genesis 1:26-27).
The scribes and Pharisees, who were the religious authorities of the Jews, questioned Jesus' authority to speak and act in God's name. They questioned Jesus' claim to forgive sins and to set people free from slavery to sin. They understood that only God had power to forgive sins and to release people from their burden of guilt and shame. They refused to accept that Jesus' authority was given to him by his Father in heaven. Jesus tells them that they think evil of him and desire to kill him because they are under the influence and power of the "father of lies" who is opposed to the one true Father and Creator who made us in his image and likeness (Genesis 1:26-27).
Jesus explains that he is speaking of two different
senses of "fatherhood". The first is a physical identity through
natural fatherhood. And the second and more significant identity is a
self-chosen one that is the result of being led and formed in a moral way of
thinking and living one's life that has been shaped through the example, words,
and influence of someone we are consciously or unconsciously following and
imitating.
We do not grow or learn in a vacuum. We are shaped for
better or for worse by those we choose to imitate and follow. Sin leads us away
from God's truth and the help he gives us to follow him. Slavery to sin is
ultimately rooted in the father of lies (John 8:44),
whom Scripture calls the devil (Luke
4:1) and Satan (Luke 10:18),
the ruler of this present world who is opposed to God (John 12:31; 2 Corinthians 4:4).
True freedom comes from God
The freedom which Jesus offers his followers is freedom from the power of sin, Satan, and the worldly influence of those who oppose God and his ways. We are powerless to set ourselves free from bondage to Satan, sin, and death (Romans 3:23; 5:6). That is why the Lord Jesus took our sins upon himself and nailed them to the cross (1 Peter 2:24; Isaiah 53:5-6; Colossians 2:14). His death on the cross has won victory and pardon for us, and peace with God. Through Jesus' sacrifice we are not only forgiven and reconciled with God - we become the adopted sons and daughters of God (Romans 8:14-16). We can call God our Father because the Lord Jesus has reconciled us and redeemed us from slavery to sin and Satan.
The freedom which Jesus offers his followers is freedom from the power of sin, Satan, and the worldly influence of those who oppose God and his ways. We are powerless to set ourselves free from bondage to Satan, sin, and death (Romans 3:23; 5:6). That is why the Lord Jesus took our sins upon himself and nailed them to the cross (1 Peter 2:24; Isaiah 53:5-6; Colossians 2:14). His death on the cross has won victory and pardon for us, and peace with God. Through Jesus' sacrifice we are not only forgiven and reconciled with God - we become the adopted sons and daughters of God (Romans 8:14-16). We can call God our Father because the Lord Jesus has reconciled us and redeemed us from slavery to sin and Satan.
A redeemed slave is not entirely free until all of his
chains and weights have been broken and destroyed. The Lord Jesus alone has the
power to release us from every chain and burden that would keep us in bondage
to sinful habits and hurtful desires. Are there any chains - any sinful
patterns, harmful attitudes, and addictive behavior - that you need to be
released from? Allow the Lord Jesus to unbind you and bring you healing,
pardon, and freedom to walk in his way of love and truth. The Lord Jesus sets
us free from slavery to our own selfishness and sinful desires
in order to set us free for a joy-filled life of love and
service for his kingdom. Paul the Apostle reminds us that Christ has won
freedom for each one of us - not to serve ourselves or do as we please - but
rather to please the Lord and to serve our neighbors in love for their
sake (Galatians 5:1,13). Do you accept and believe Christ's word of truth,
love, and freedom for your life?
"Lord Jesus, write your words of love and truth
upon my heart and make me a diligent student and a worthy disciple of your
word."
A Daily Quote for Lent: The upright of heart, by Augustine
of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"Do you know who the upright of heart are? They
are those who wish what God wishes. Therefore, do not try to twist God's will
to you own but correct your will to that of God. The will of God is a rule of
conduct. By it you have the means of being converted and of correcting your
evil ways." (excerpt from Commentary on Psalm
93,18)
Wednesday 21
March 2018
Daniel 3:14-20, 24-25, 28. Daniel 3:52-56. John 8:31-42.
Glory and praise for ever!—Daniel 3:52-56.
If the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.
In today’s Gospel Jesus invites us to consider the ways in which
his word and the truth it contains will set us free. The believers asked him
about this freedom. They thought they were already free because they were not
slaves.
Though we may be free from physical servitude we can be enslaved
by sin. We may arrive at limits to our freedom by the patterns of behaviour and
living that we have become used to. It is the encounter with Jesus that sets us
free to a new engagement with the world.
This is a freedom to become more generous in love and diligent
in service. It is an encounter that calls us to a liberation of the heart such
that we might be fully alive and active in doing the will of the Father.
Blessed John of Parma
Saint of the Day for March 21
(1209–1289)
Blessed John of Parma’s Story
The seventh general minister of the Franciscan Order, John was
known for his attempts to bring back the earlier spirit of the Order after the death
of Saint Francis of Assisi.
He was born in Parma, Italy, in 1209. It was when he was a young
philosophy professor known for his piety and learning that God called him to
bid good-bye to the world he was used to and enter the new world of the
Franciscan Order. After his profession, John was sent to Paris to complete his
theological studies. Ordained to the priesthood, he was appointed to teach
theology at Bologna, then Naples, and finally Rome.
In 1245, Pope Innocent IV called a general council in the city
of Lyons, France. Crescentius, the Franciscan minister general at the time, was
ailing and unable to attend. In his place he sent Friar John, who made a deep
impression on the Church leaders gathered there. Two years later, when the same
pope presided at the election of a minister general of the Franciscans, he
remembered Friar John well and held him up as the man best qualified for the
office.
And so in 1247, John of Parma was elected to be minister
general. The surviving disciples of St. Francis rejoiced in his election,
expecting a return to the spirit of poverty and humility of the early days of
the Order. And they were not disappointed. As general of the Order, John
traveled on foot, accompanied by one or two companions, to practically all of
the Franciscan convents in existence. Sometimes he would arrive and not be
recognized, remaining there for a number of days to test the true spirit of the
brothers.
The pope called on John to serve as legate to Constantinople,
where he was most successful in winning back the schismatic Greeks. Upon his
return, he asked that someone else take his place to govern the Order. At
John’s urging, Saint Bonaventure was chosen to succeed him. John took up a life
of prayer in the hermitage at Greccio.
Many years later, John learned that the Greeks who had been
reconciled with the Church for a time, had relapsed into schism. Though 80
years old by then, John received permission from Pope Nicholas IV to return to
the East in an effort to restore unity once again. On his way, John fell sick
and died.
He was beatified in 1781.
Reflection
In the 13th century, people in their 30s were middle-aged;
hardly anyone lived to the ripe old age of 80. John did, but he didn’t ease
into retirement. Instead he was on his way to try to heal a schism in the
Church when he died. Our society today boasts a lot of folks in their later
decades. Like John, many of them lead active lives. But some aren’t so
fortunate. Weakness or ill health keeps them confined and lonely—waiting to
hear from us.
The Liturgical Feast Day for Blessed John of Parma is March 20.
LECTIO DIVINA: JOHN 8,31-42
Lectio Divina:
Wednesday, March 21, 2018
Season of Lent
1) OPENING PRAYER
Lord our God,
You call us to be free people.
Help us to give You always
a response of freedom.
Set free by Christ’s
liberating word and death,
may we never again
shackle ourselves with self-made chains,
of selfish sin and false attachments.
We ask You this through Christ our Lord.
You call us to be free people.
Help us to give You always
a response of freedom.
Set free by Christ’s
liberating word and death,
may we never again
shackle ourselves with self-made chains,
of selfish sin and false attachments.
We ask You this through Christ our Lord.
2) GOSPEL READING - 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."
3) REFLECTION
• The reflection on chapter 8 of the
Gospel of John continues today. In the form of concentric circles, John deepens
the mystery of God which envelopes the person of Jesus. It seems like a
repetition, because he always goes back to speak of the same point. In reality,
it is the same point, but every time at a more profound level. 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.
• John 8:31-32: 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; 32 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.
• John 8:33.38: What is it to be a son
or a daughter of Abraham? The reaction of the Jews is immediate: “We are
descended from Abraham and we have never been the slaves of anyone: what do You
mean: You will be set free?” Jesus repeats and confirms making a distinction
between son and slave and says: “Everyone who commits sin is a slave. The slave
has no permanent standing in the household, but a son belongs to it forever. So
if the Son sets you free, you will indeed be free”. Jesus is the son and
remains in the house of the Father. The slave does not live in the house of the
Father. To live outside the house, outside of God means to live in sin. If they
would accept the word of Jesus they could become sons and attain liberty. They
would no longer be slaves. And Jesus continues: “I know that you are descended
from Abraham; but you want to kill Me, because My word finds no place in you”.
The distinction is immediately very clear: “What I speak of is what I have seen
at My Father’s side, and you too put into action the lessons you have learnt
from your father”. Jesus denies to them the right to say that they are sons of
Abraham, because their works affirm the contrary.
• John 8:39-41ª: A son of Abraham
fulfills the works of Abraham. They insist in affirming: “Our father is
Abraham!” as if they wanted to present to Jesus a document of their identity.
Jesus repeats: “If you are sons of Abraham do the works of Abraham! 40 Now,
instead you are seeking to kill Me, because I have told you the truth heard
from God; Abraham has not done this. 41 You do the works of your father”.
Between the lines, He suggests that their father is Satan (Jn 8:44). He
suggests that they are sons of prostitution.
• John 8:41b-42: If God was your Father,
certainly, you would love Me, because I have My origin in God and I come from
Him; I did not come of My own accord, but He sent Me”. Jesus repeats the same
truth using diverse words: “Whoever comes from God listens to the words of
God”. The origin of this affirmation is from Jeremiah who says: “Within them I
shall plant My Law, writing it on their hearts. Then I shall be their God and
they will be My people. There will be no further need for everyone to teach
neighbor or brother, saying: ‘Learn to know Yahweh!’ No, they will all know Me,
from the least to the greatest, Yahweh declares, since I shall forgive their
guilt and never more call their sin to mind” (Jr 31:33-34). But they will not
open themselves to this new experience of God, and because of this they will
not recognize Jesus as the one sent by the Father.
4) PERSONAL QUESTIONS
• This passage talks about slavery in a
new way to the Jews. Even today, we often think of slavery in a narrow way and
not as Jesus is talking about here. In what ways are we slaves to things of the
world which the Father has no need of?
• Which is my deepest experience which
leads me to recognize Jesus as the one sent by God?
• There is a strong statement for us to
be put together from this passage. "If God were your Father, you would
love Me” and "If you were Abraham's children, you would be doing the works
of Abraham.” It can then be said: “ If God were your Father, you would be doing
the works of God”. Do we actively do the work of God every day as his children,
or just when we have time or when it is convenient?
5) CONCLUDING PRAYER
May You be blessed, Lord, God of our
ancestors,
be praised and extolled for ever.
Blessed be Your glorious and holy name,
praised and extolled for ever.
Blessed on the throne of Your kingdom,
exalted above all, glorified for ever. (Dn 3,52.54)
be praised and extolled for ever.
Blessed be Your glorious and holy name,
praised and extolled for ever.
Blessed on the throne of Your kingdom,
exalted above all, glorified for ever. (Dn 3,52.54)
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