Word to the Wise
Wednesday, March 24, 2021 - 5th Week of Lent - Wed
[Dan 3:14-20, 91-92, 95 and 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 the Son frees you, then you will truly be free." [John]
Today's gospel scripture continues the discourse that follows the story of the woman caught in adultery. These "discourses" often begin with a statement that is misunderstood, resulting in Jesus clarifying with profound teaching. Today, a word that appears often in this gospel - "remain" - challenges the audience to be faithful. It is followed by an "Amen, Amen, I say to you...." statement about the freedom to be gained by belief in Jesus as the one whom God has sent. "Sin" is the refusal to believe and thus remain in darkness and slavery to untruth. The audience mistakes the word "slavery" to mean physical servitude. Jesus means slavery to disbelief. The audience takes refuge in the faith of Abraham, but Jesus accuses them of being unfaithful to Abraham. When this discourse reaches its climax further on, Jesus will reveal himself as before and above Abraham!
We who are "cradle Catholics" can learn from this discourse. It is possible for us to take refuge in the identity of "Catholic" and be blind to what this identity fully means. Sometimes this is due to less than complete education in all the truth that our tradition embraces. Sometimes it is due to social or political blinders that keep us from seeing truth that is inconvenient or threatening. Our "remaining" can become something on our own terms and not those of Jesus. I recommend talking to those who embrace the Catholic tradition at the Easter Vigil and hearing their stories as one way of understanding what we "cradle Catholics" may be missing. Can we accept the "freedom of truth" that Jesus is offering? AMEN