In the Gospel of St. John (8, 31-42), Jesus says, “If you make my word your home, you will indeed be my disciples, you will learn the truth and the truth will set you free.” Many of those who first heard Him say that, including the Pharisees, took umbrage at His statement. They claimed they were “descendants of Abraham, therefore never slaves to anyone.” The fact is, however, in the long history of their people (our ancestors), the Jews were almost continuously enslaved by invading powers or under the oppressive rule of foreign rulers. But let’s not miss the point: the “slavery” and “freedom” Jesus speaks about in John 8 are all about sin.
Do you remember what we heard back on Ash Wednesday? “Turn away from sin and believe in the Gospel.” In hearing the echo of these words today or Jesus’ words in John 8, how many of us have truly made His word our “home?” How many of us have to admit that we are not really very familiar with Jesus’ words in the New Testament? How many of us have engaged in various Lenten disciplines so that we might actually turn away from sin and believe in Jesus more fully?
Do we believe that Jesus wants to make us truly free? How many of us experience our commitment to Him as a “liberation?” On the other hand, how many have left the Church over the years because they felt suffocated, and wanted to be “free?” What freedom were they looking for?
Food for thought today: if we do not find being a follower of Jesus a “liberating” experience here and now, we do not really understand the true nature of Christian faith.
