Tuesday, April 19, 2011

The Daily Gospel

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint 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 a 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 are not illegitimate. 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. 

Commentary:

God is Truth: "The sum of your word is truth; and every one of your righteous ordinances endures forever."(Ps 119[118],160). "And now, O Lord God, you are God, and your words are true" (2Sm 7,28); this is why God's promises always come true. God is Truth itself, whose words cannot deceive. This is why one can abandon oneself in full trust to the truth and faithfulness of his word in all things. the beginning of sin and of man's fall was due to a lie of the tempter who induced doubt of God's word, kindness and faithfulness (Gn 3,1).
God's truth is his wisdom, which commands the whole created order and governs the world. God, who alone made heaven and earth, can alone impart true knowledge of every created thing in relation to himself. God is also truthful when he reveals himself - the teaching that comes from God is "true instruction" (Mal 2,6). When he sends his Son into the world it will be "to bear witness to the truth" (Jn 18,37). "We know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, to know him who is true» (1Jn 5,20).

God is Love...: God's love for Israel is compared to a father's love for his son (Hos 11,1). His love for his people is stronger than a mother's for her children (Is 49,14-15). God loves his people more than a bridegroom his beloved (Is 62,4-5) ; his love will be victorious over even the worst infidelities and will extend to his most precious gift: "God so loved the world that he gave his only Son" (Jn 3,16). 

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