To Whom Do I Belong

Greetings on this the Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Lent
Readings: Dn 3:14-20, 91-92, 95; Daniel 3:52, 53, 54, 55, 56; Jn 8:31-42
Notes:

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered King Nebuchadnezzar with faith in the Lord no matter the earthly outcome. They understood who they are and who they belong to, the Lord.

In today’s gospel portion those challenging Jesus had a false understanding of who they are and who they belong to.

• We were never slaves – but you were in Egypt a slave and even now slave to sin.
• We are children of Abraham, he is our father – yes, descendants, but you act in contradiction to the ancestor.
• We have one father, God – no! You have no relation to God because you cannot see Him at work in His Son.

First reading
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.

“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
Glory and praise for ever!

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

Gospel Portion
“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.”

• Free from slavery to sin.
• Free to know God as Father.
• Free to know God in His Son.
• Free to know truth as person.

In this gospel portion Jesus makes the distinction between being descendants and being children. Descendants by Ancestry is not being children of which in this case is closely understood as disciple or at least one who is righteous.

Trying to kill me because your father is the father of sin, Satan.
They are expressing:

• spiritual fornication.
• children or disciples of evil.
• actions of evil.

Take heart in this Lent!
Reject Satan and seek good.

We don’t have to rationalize and make elaborate intellectual arguments of who we are and to whom we belong like those arguing with Jesus.

Strive for good. Strive to live in truth.
And you will be free.

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry