April 9, 2014
Wednesday, 5th Week of Lent Feast of St. Mary of Cleophas
1st Reading:
Dn 3:14–20, 91–92, 95
Gospel: Jn 8:31–42
Jesus went on to say to the Jews who believed in him: “You will be my true disciples if you keep my word. Then you will know the truth and the truth will make you free.” They answered him, “We are the descendants of Abraham and have never been slaves of anyone. What do you mean by saying: You will be free?”
Jesus answered them, “Truly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave. But the slave doesn’t stay in the house forever; the son stays forever. So, if the Son makes you free, you will be really free.
“I know that you are the descendants of Abraham; yet you want to kill me because my word finds no place in you. For my part I speak of what I have seen in the Father’s presence, but you do what you have learned from your father.”
They answered him, “Our father is Abraham.” Then Jesus said, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would do as Abraham did. But now you want to kill me, the one who tells you the truth—the truth that I have learned from God. That is not what Abraham did; what you are doing are the works of your father.” (…)
D@iGITAL-EXPERIENCE
(Daily Gospel in the Assimilated Life Experience)
A joke is told of a hardworking house servant who was treated by the masters as part of the family for her long period of loyal service. Despite this well-deserved favor she remained humble. She even continued to wear her servant uniform even when told she could already use clothing of her choice. One day a visitor from Manila who recognized her by her uniform said to her: “Tiyak, ikaw ang muchacha” (Surely you are the house helper). She replied in her dialect: “Di raba ko tig-ballroom!” (I know nothing about ballroom dancing).
Some servants stay very long in the family they serve. Others even come to the point of being considered part of the masters’ family. By their loyalty they earn the freedom of the children of the household. This is not the case of many servants in modern households. Many in fact leave the household of their masters too soon, either because they are disloyal, inefficient and discourteous, or because their masters are stone-hearted. In both cases the master-servant relationship is short-lived.
Scriptures liken us to servants in the house of God. We stay long in God’s household not because of any merit but because of God’s love. How unfortunate that even while enjoying the privilege of staying in God’s household we remain slaves because of sin. Jesus said: “Truly, I say to you whoever commits sin is a slave.” – Rev. Fr. Dan Domingo P. delos Angeles, Jr., DM. Email: dan.delosangeles@gmail.com. Website: www.frdan.org.
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