Jesus and Abraham

Today's Reflections

 

Jesus and Abraham 

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Jn 8:31-42

³¹Jesus said to those Jews who believed in him, “If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, ³²and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” ³³They answered him, “We are descendants of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How can you say, ‘You will become free’?” ³⁴Jesus answered them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin. ³⁵A slave does not remain in a household forever, but a son always remains. ³⁶So if a son frees you, then you will truly be free. ³⁷I know that you are descendants of Abraham. But you are trying to kill me, because my word has no room among you. ³⁸I tell you what I have seen in the Father’s presence; then do what you have heard from the Father.”

³⁹They 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. ⁴⁰But 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. ⁴¹You are doing the works of your father!” [So] they said to him, “We are not illegitimate. We have one Father, God.” ⁴²Jesus 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.”

Reflection:

Everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin. The truth in Jesus’ words is illustrated by the apostle Paul who writes, “I do not do the good I want, but I do the evil I do not want.” Then he adds, “Miserable one that I am! Who will deliver me from this mortal body?” But he also gives the answer, “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom 7:19, 24-25a).

Jesus gives the same answer in different words: “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.”

The truth is no other than Jesus Christ. If we know him and are united to him by remaining in his word, we will become sons and daughters of God and no longer slaves of sin. Those who follow their own desires remain slaves of sin. Instead, no one is as free as the saints, like St. Francis of Assisi.

To follow Christ is to be free.