Daily Reflection | Gospel Reading | RVA

THE WORD

Gen 17,3-9 / Jn 8,51-59

“Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever keeps my word will never see death.” So the Jews said to him, “Now we are sure that you are possessed. Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say, ‘Whoever keeps my word will never taste death.’ Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? Or the prophets, who died? Who do you make yourself out to be?” Jesus answered,

“If I glorify myself, my glory is worth nothing; but it is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’ You do not know him, but I know him. And if I should say that I do not know him, I would be like you a liar. But I do know him and I keep his word. Abraham your father rejoiced to see my day; he saw it and was glad.” So the Jews said to him “You are not yet fifty years old and you have seen Abraham?” Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, before Abraham came to be, I AM.” So they picked up stones to throw at him; but Jesus hid and went out of the temple area.

IN OTHER WORDS

Dictators and oppressors usually hate the truth. They go out of their way to stife it, to shut the mouth of those who proclaim it. And in order to bury the truth, more often than not, they literally bury those who proclaim it.

Truth has a quality that makes the most powerful oppressor tremble in fear. He is deathly afraid of the truth. For deep in his heart he knows that no power could ever sti e or bury the truth. For when the truth comes, it would expose his cowardice and fears.

The leader of the Jews and the Pharisees were afraid of Jesus. They were afraid of losing their power and authority. They knew in their heart that what Jesus was saying was the truth but they didn’t want to listen to it. In their argument against Jesus, they wanted to seize the moral high ground by name-dropping Abraham and the prophets, and invoking the covenant.

Jesus on the other hand knew his word was life and anyone who would keep his word would have eternal life. In his argument against the elders and the Pharisees, Jesus did not mean to put them down; rather, to appeal to them to open their hearts to the truth as they too could have life. Jesus had to reveal who he really was in order to win the Jews but they would not accept him.

The religious leaders of the Jews, like tyrants and oppressors anywhere, would rather cling to their power and authority rather than listen to the truth and be changed.

Let us take stock of ourselves. Are we so concerned with our power and authority and so afraid that these be eroded that we sometimes sti e the truth?

• Fr. Hernan Suico, SVD | (Cebu City)

The Word in other words 2016

An annual project of Logos Publications, The WORD in Other Words Bible Diary contains daily scripture readings and reflections written by priest, brothers, and sisters of the three congregations founded by St. Arnold Janssen (the SVD, SSpS, and SSpSAP). It hopes to serve as a daily companion to readers who continually seek the correlation of the Word of God and human experience.

	Production : Fr. Carlos Maria de Guzman, Jr., SVD and Staff of Logos Publications
	Cover Design : Malou E. Domingo
	Liturgical Calendar : Fr. Atilano Corcuera, SVD
	Production Consultant : Fr. Gerardo del Pinado, SVD
	Scriptural Texts : New American Bible and Daily Roman Missal
	Cover artwork based on photos by Fr. Bar Fabella, SVD
	Published by : Logos Publications, Inc. 1916 Oroquieta St., Sta. Cruz, Manila
	Email Address: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
	Telephone : +63 2 711 1323
	Fax : +63 2 732 273
	Copyright © 2015 Society of the Divine Word

 

THE WORD

Dn 3, 14-20.91-92/Jn 8, 31-42

Jesus then 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 a 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 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. You are doing the works of your father!” So they said to him, “We are not illegitimate. 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.”6

IN OTHER WORDS

Erik Erikson, a 20th century American psychologist, noted: “In the social jungle of human existence, there is no feeling of being alive without a sense of identity.”

The focal point of the tension in today’s gospel is the issue of identity. The Jews believe that their sense of identity comes from the position they continue to enjoy as the chosen people. Being descendants of Abraham, they claim that they have never been slaves to anyone. Furthermore, they invoke the Fatherhood of God to legitimize their identity. For Jesus, however, his sense of identity simply comes from his being sent by His Father – the Son of the Father. And so, for him, the Jews’ rejection of his word and impending attempt to kill him contradict their claim of the same Fatherhood; and that unless they would love him, their claim of the Fatherhood of God has no sense at all.

In such a tension, Jesus teaches that by failing to accept and love him, the Jews’ claim of divine inheritance is not authentic. In our case, it does not suffice that we can trace our spiritual fatherhood of God through membership in the Church. The gospel reminds us that an authentic claim to such a divine heritage lies in our capacity to accept the words of Jesus. It lies in our openness to listen to Him, though at times it may really hit and even break us. Acceptance of Jesus calls us to get rid of our superficial and false sense of identity like that of a Jews whose superficial sense of identity deprived them to see the newness and richness of Jesus’ words and person.

The post-modern world has created a culture of hegemony that tends to ruin our sense of identity as individuals or as a community of persons. This is where Christian identity can offer a counter culture. Our sense of identity in Christ, when fully lived by us who are called Christians - not only by name but by our very life - can become a powerful means to dispel the power of unbelief and

indifference that pervade the world. And so the gospel today invites us to examine the false sense of identity that we have imposed on ourselves, or that we have allowed the world to impose on us.

How can they become means to enslave us? How do they hinder us in our search for freedom and peace in our lives? May this Lenten season give us the grace to break off from them and therefore once again, let the Christ in us grow and shine forth to the people around us.

• Fr. Samuel Agcaracar, SVD | Rome, Italy

The Word in other words 2016

An annual project of Logos Publications, The WORD in Other Words Bible Diary contains daily scripture readings and reflections written by priest, brothers, and sisters of the three congregations founded by St. Arnold Janssen (the SVD, SSpS, and SSpSAP). It hopes to serve as a daily companion to readers who continually seek the correlation of the Word of God and human experience.

	Production : Fr. Carlos Maria de Guzman, Jr., SVD and Staff of Logos Publications
	Cover Design : Malou E. Domingo
	Liturgical Calendar : Fr. Atilano Corcuera, SVD
	Production Consultant : Fr. Gerardo del Pinado, SVD
	Scriptural Texts : New American Bible and Daily Roman Missal
	Cover artwork based on photos by Fr. Bar Fabella, SVD
	Published by : Logos Publications, Inc. 1916 Oroquieta St., Sta. Cruz, Manila
	Email Address: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
	Telephone : +63 2 711 1323
	Fax : +63 2 732 273
	Copyright © 2015 Society of the Divine Word

 

THE WORD

Nm 21,4-9 / Jn 8,21-30

Jesus said to the Pharisees, “I am going away and you will look for me, but you will die in your sin. Where I am going you cannot come.” So the Jews said, “He is not going to kill himself, is he, because he said, ‘Where I am going you cannot come’?” He said to them, “You belong to what is below, I belong to what is above. You belong to this world, but I do not belong to this world. That is why I told you that you will die in your sins. For if you do not believe that I AM, you will die in your sins.” So they said to him, “Who are you?” Jesus said to them, “What I told you from the beginning. I have much to say about you in condemnation. But the one who sent me is true, and what I heard from him I tell the world.” They did not realize that he was speaking to them of the Father. So Jesus said to them, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will realize that I AM, and that I do nothing on my own, but I say only what the Father taught me. The one who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, because I always do what is pleasing to him.” Because he spoke this way, many came to believe in him.

IN OTHER WORDS

Jesus implies separation in this gospel. He said: “You belong to what is below, I belong to what is above.” Separation, in its most common manifestation, is nothing but an undesirable act of division. It is part of life but we don’t like its painful process: sadness, regret, hate, pain and tears. And we long to be reunited to people or things we are separated from.

When I, as an exchange student, left the Philippines for Portugal, I had difficulty accepting separation from family and friends. Perhaps all missionaries or overseas workers undergo the same separation difficulty. Yet, why do they choose to sacrifice the luxury of being with the people they love to venture and live in far distant places? I believe separation is not an end but a necessary process for a sweet reunion ahead. After all, separation is part of the greater picture of unity.

Humanity has long been separated from God. God did not turn away from us; we turned away from Him through our sins. Nevertheless, God wants us to be reunited with Him by sending his son Jesus on earth to bring us back to him. Jesus lived among us, yet never separated from the Father. Jesus proves that being human does not mean being separated from the divine – him as the perfect example of being both human and divine. His invitation is for us to imitate him and be reunited with the Father. And for this to happen, we need to turn away from the things that separate us from Him: our sins and worldly desires. Otherwise, we cannot fully live with Him, neither here on earth nor in the life after. May we choose eternal joy with God more than meeting worldly pleasures.

• Fr. Charlie Bardaje, SVD | Portugal

The Word in other words 2016

An annual project of Logos Publications, The WORD in Other Words Bible Diary contains daily scripture readings and reflections written by priest, brothers, and sisters of the three congregations founded by St. Arnold Janssen (the SVD, SSpS, and SSpSAP). It hopes to serve as a daily companion to readers who continually seek the correlation of the Word of God and human experience.

	Production : Fr. Carlos Maria de Guzman, Jr., SVD and Staff of Logos Publications
	Cover Design : Malou E. Domingo
	Liturgical Calendar : Fr. Atilano Corcuera, SVD
	Production Consultant : Fr. Gerardo del Pinado, SVD
	Scriptural Texts : New American Bible and Daily Roman Missal
	Cover artwork based on photos by Fr. Bar Fabella, SVD
	Published by : Logos Publications, Inc. 1916 Oroquieta St., Sta. Cruz, Manila
	Email Address: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
	Telephone : +63 2 711 1323
	Fax : +63 2 732 273
	Copyright © 2015 Society of the Divine Word

 

THE WORD

 Dn 13,41-62 / Jn 8,1-11

Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Early in the morning he arrived again in the temple area, and all the people started coming to him, and he sat down and taught them. Then the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery and made her stand in the middle. They said to him, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. Now in the law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?" They said this to test him, so that they could have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and began to write on the ground with his finger. But when they continued asking him, he straightened up and said to them, "Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her." Again he bent down and wrote on he ground. And in response, they went away one by one, beginning with the elders. So he was left alone with the woman before him. Then Jesus straightened up and said to her, "Woman where are they? Has no one condemned you?" She replied, "No one, sir." Then Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you. Go, and from now on do not sin any more."

Alternative gospel if Jn 8, 1-11 is read on the preceding Sunday..Jn 8, 12-20

Jesus spoke to the Pharisees again, saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." So the Pharisees said to him, "You testify on your own behalf, so your testimony cannot be verified. Jesus answered and said to them, "Even if I do testify on my own behalf, my testimony can be verified, because I know where I came from and where I am going. But you do not know where I come from or where I am going. You judge by appearances, but I do not judge anyone. And even if I should judge, my judgement is valid, because I am not alone, but it is I and the Father who sent me. Even in your law it is written that the testimony of two men can be verified. I testify on my behalf and so does the Father who sent me. So they said to him, "Where is your Father?" Jesus answered, "You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also. He spoke these words while teaching in the treasury in the temple area. But no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come.

IN OTHER WORDS

Nobody is quintessentially wicked. Deep in our hearts lives the longing to be good. This longing is often put to silence by disappointments and bitterness. It is also armored. Yes, how tempting it is to build walls around our hearts to make ourselves bulletproof! Even if it’s like that, the heart is still there – it exists! Like spring buds, the longing of the heart only needs the sun for it to blossom. The adulteress experienced that. She was surrounded by accusers who only saw her indiscretion and how she should be, in accordance to the law of Moses (Leviticus 20: 10), condemned to stoning.

They tried to test Jesus by entrusting to him the judgement: “What do you say?” Jesus came up. He was convinced that the longing to be good lives in the heart of this woman. He shows goodness to her, and this goodness allows her to blossom – to claim and live the life, that is almost wasted, anew! There will be new beginnings for her, this time determined by honesty, peace and integrity.

All of us have had bad experiences. Jesus wants us not to get stuck there. Let His words speak to us: “Neither do I condemn you. Go, and from now on do not sin anymore.”

• Fr. Ritch Salinas, SVD | Germany

The Word in other words 2016

An annual project of Logos Publications, The WORD in Other Words Bible Diary contains daily scripture readings and reflections written by priest, brothers, and sisters of the three congregations founded by St. Arnold Janssen (the SVD, SSpS, and SSpSAP). It hopes to serve as a daily companion to readers who continually seek the correlation of the Word of God and human experience.

	Production : Fr. Carlos Maria de Guzman, Jr., SVD and Staff of Logos Publications
	Cover Design : Malou E. Domingo
	Liturgical Calendar : Fr. Atilano Corcuera, SVD
	Production Consultant : Fr. Gerardo del Pinado, SVD
	Scriptural Texts : New American Bible and Daily Roman Missal
	Cover artwork based on photos by Fr. Bar Fabella, SVD
	Published by : Logos Publications, Inc. 1916 Oroquieta St., Sta. Cruz, Manila
	Email Address: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
	Telephone : +63 2 711 1323
	Fax : +63 2 732 273
	Copyright © 2015 Society of the Divine Word