THE WORD AND THE TRUTH 

“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.” – John 8:31-32

It started with something so tiny: a toothache. It sounds silly, but this seemingly insignificant episode triggered a season of sadness cum midlife crisis. Next, I felt a nagging ache in my left arm. I tried all sorts of remedies—stretching, massage, therapy—but the pain was still there.

Then one morning, I looked at myself in the mirror and I saw new wrinkles I never saw before. I looked at my hair and saw a lot of white strands. And the realization hit me like a waterfall washing over me: My body was now a vintage car whose spare parts are conking out one after another. I began to mourn the passing of my youth and feeling sorry for myself, to the point of preparing myself for death.

Thankfully, through past experiences, I knew what to do.

I had to reframe. I was seeing my reality from the lens of lies. I had to now see my reality from God’s lens. I bombarded my mind with the truth. I nourished my heart with the Word. Things became easier to accept since then.

Friend, what lies have you believed about yourself? Check out the truth hidden in every Word of God. Bo Sanchez (bosanchez@kerygmafamily.com)

Reflect: What predominates in your life—God’s truth or the devil’s lies? It’s time to see your reality from God’s lens.

Thank You, dearest God, for teaching me Your truth through the Bible. May I always depend on it more than what the world says. Amen.

St. Hugh of Grenoble, pray for us.

The three young men in today’s reading discovered a higher calling for which they are willing to risk their lives. This calling is obedience to the Lord’s law. What a different world we would live in if everyone had the same obedient heart for His law. Such a response is rare. Self-preservation is the norm even at the expense of truth and justice. Let us pray for the grace to place the truth first.

Daniel 3:14-20, 91-92, 95

14 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? 15 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 that can deliver you out of my hands?” 16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered King Nebuchadnezzar, “There is no need for us to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17 If our God, whom we serve, can save us from the white-hot furnace and from your hands, O king, may he save us! 18 But even if he will not, know, O king, that we will not serve your god or worship the golden statue which you set up.” 19 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 20 and had some of the strongest men in his army bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and cast them into the white-hot furnace. 91 Nebuchadnezzar rose in haste and asked his nobles, “Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?” “Assuredly, O king,” they answered. 92 “But,” he replied, “I see four men unfettered and unhurt, walking in the fire, and the fourth looks like a son of God.” 95 Nebuchadnezzar exclaimed, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who sent his angel to deliver the servants that trusted in him; they disobeyed the royal command and yielded their bodies rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.”

PSALM

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

R: Glory and praise forever!

52 “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) 53 “Blessed are you in the temple of your holy glory, praiseworthy and glorious above all forever.” (R) 54 “Blessed are you on the throne of your kingdom, praiseworthy and exalted above all forever.” (R) 55 “Blessed are you who look into the depths from your throne upon the cherubim, praiseworthy and exalted above all forever.” (R) 56 “Blessed are you in the firmament of heaven, praiseworthy and glorious forever.” (R)

GOSPEL

Jesus places a high premium on the truth that God loves us and has forgiven all our sins. There is no greater truth than this—truth that can set us free. May we understand and live it out every day. Let us pray for the grace to embrace God’s love and forgiveness and to share this Good News with everyone.

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

John 8:31-42

31 Jesus said to those Jews who believed in him, “If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, 32 and 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. 40 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. 41 You are doing the works of your father!” So they said to him, “We were not born of fornication. 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.”

Reflect: How do you react when someone confronts you with the truth?

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Read the Bible in one year - Exodus 16-18  

ARE YOU A SLAVE OR A FREE MAN?

Can you go to your heart of hearts and answer honestly this question: If the Pope declares tomorrow that Catholics are no longer required to attend Mass on Sundays, would you still do so? If your answer is “yes,” you are a free person. If your answer is “no more,” then you are a slave. Let me explain myself.

The Jews of Jesus’ time were law-abiding citizens. They followed strictly the letter of the law that was handed down by their forefathers. And this is their claim to freedom. Jesus challenged this concept of freedom. In the Gospel, Jesus spoke of a freedom that goes beyond abiding by the law. True freedom is freedom from the clutches and seduction of sin. Freedom for Jesus is not simply following the law but freedom from the desire to break the law.

If there still in your heart a desire to break the law, you are still a slave of the law. If there is no more desire in your heart to break the demands of a law, then you no longer need that law, and in that sense you are free.

A Catholic who goes to Mass even if it is not a day of obligation does not need the third commandment, “Keep holy the Sabbath.” He is free from that commandment as there is no longer any desire in his heart to break that law.

A man, who loves his wife dearly cherishes his relationship with her and wishes nothing but her happiness, does not need the sixth commandment, “Thou shall not commit adultery.” He is free from that commandment because there is no longer any desire in his heart to break that law.

An honest man who returns a bag full of money and valuables does not need the seventh commandment, “Thou shall not steal.” He is free from that commandment because there is no longer any desire in his heart to break that law.

So, is the fear of punishment or getting caught the only thing that prevents you from breaking the law, be it the legal or moral? Is there still a desire in your heart to break a law? In that measure you are still a slave. Fr. Joel Jason

---------- REFLECTION QUESTION ----------

Jesus came to give us freedom from the law: freedom not to break it but to fulfill it. What does this mean to you?

Your laws, O Lord, give joy to the heart. Amen.
Today, I pray for: _________________________________