The Gospel for the Wednesday of the fifth week in Lent is taken from John’s Gospel. 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. I know that you are descendants of Abraham. But you are trying to kill me because my word has no room among you.

I tell you what I have seen in the Father’s presence. Then do what you have heard from the Father. They 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. But you are trying to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do this.

You are doing the works of your Father. So they said to him, we were not born of fornication. We have one father, God. Jesus 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. The promise that God makes to us in the person Jesus is that we will be in the truth.

And it’s interesting, when Jesus speaks of it. He talks about it being something that you’re in. You remain in it. And when you’re in the truth, you see differently. And the thing you see is something so natural that to follow it is so freeing, so easy. No obligation.

It’s just who I want to be. That’s the gift. The closing prayer. Father, open us to the fullness of who you are. And as we are called to be like you, we’re called to be an instrument of grace and peace through the way we live. Our authenticity, our truth is so important.

Thank you for that gift. Amen.