Lenten Reflection for 3/29

Fifth Wednesday of Lent

Daily Prayer

Almighty Ever-Living God, who through Your Word reconciles the human race to Yourself and who chose us to be children of light, free us from our sins and make us worthy of Your healing.

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.


Scripture Readings

Daniel 3:14-20, 91-92, 95; John 8:31-42
(Click for today’s Readings.)

Scripture Quote

John 8:31-32

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.”


Reflection

Jesus asks his disciples to remain, or abide or live, in His Word. What is His Word? John tells us the answer at the beginning of his Gospel:

“In the beginning was the Word,
    and the Word was with God,
    and the Word was God.”

Jesus is the Word. Jesus is also the truth, referencing Himself when He said, “I am the way and the truth and the [eternal] life.” (John 14:6)

Therefore, if we live our lives as Jesus teaches us, if we have a continuing faith relationship with Him, then Jesus will set us free and we will not be a slave to sin.

CS Lewis writes in Mere Christianity, “When they speak of being ‘in Christ’ or of Christ being ‘in them’, this is not simply a way of saying that they are thinking about Christ or copying Him. They mean that Christ is actually operating through them; that the whole mass of Christians are the physical organism through which Christ acts…”

Reflection Questions

  • Do I set aside time each day to place myself in the presence of God and abide in His Word?
  • Do I strive to be a child of light?

Excerpts from the Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States of America, second typical edition © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC. Used with permission. All rights reserved. No portion of this text may be reproduced by any means without permission in writing from the copyright owner.