Posted by The WORD in other words (2009) by Fr Jerry Perocho SVD – Catholic Trade Manila
Wednesday 5th Week in Ordinary Time
The Jewish people suffered violent persecution during the second century before Jesus. The Syrian tyrant Antiochus IV forced them to give up their religion and worship false gods. In anguish they cried to God: “How long will your anger burn like fire?… Where are the promises you made to David?” (Psalm 89,46.49).
It was during this crisis that the author of the Book of Daniel stepped out exhorting the suffering Jews to remain steadfast and faithful. Consisting inspirational stories and visions, the Book of Daniel gives the persecuted Jews the assurance that God sees their suffering and will soon save them.
In today’s Gospel Jesus talks about living in truth and freedom. It has often been said that some truths can be verified as being truthful only by living them out. I think Jesus has something similar in mind when he said, “Keep my word and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (cf. John 8,31) The truth of what Jesus says, in other words, will be discovered in the process of living it out.
In forgiving your enemy, you discover that this is the right thing to do. In praying for those who wronged you, you discover that this is the right thing to do. By refraining from passing judgment on your neighbor, you discover that this is the right thing to do. Living in truth leads us to freedom from being slaves to ourselves. Living out Jesus’s teaching will free us from being enslaved by our bad habits, prejudices, impatience, and ignorance.
In this season of Lent, the Gospel reminds us of our own enslavement to sin, this subtle form of slavery for which Jesus wishes to free us. Blaise Paschal once said, “If you wish to be convinced of eternal truths, do not augment your arguments, but weed out your passions.” Let not our doubts about the teaching of Jesus surpass our faith in him.
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