Today, Tony Worner, Leader of Formation, reads from John’s Gospel (8: 31-42) in which Jesus says to the Jews who believed in him, ‘If you make my word your home, you will indeed be my disciples, you will learn the truth, and the truth will make you free.’

Tony says this passage continues the conversation (from yesterday’s Gospel), the confrontation, between the Jews in the Temple and Jesus.

Jesus promises those who will hear that the truth will make you free. But reminiscent of Pilate about to sentence Jesus, you can nearly hear the Pharisees saying, “Truth, what is that?” when they say “How can we be set free when we have never been slaves?” The Jews were upset that Jesus implied they were not really free. It is the same for our Western society, for our hard-won freedom seems to also be our greatest pride, where following Jesus, faith in God, doesn’t seem to matter, isn’t necessary.

However, Jesus stresses the importance of keeping his word. Doing this shows that one is a genuine follower of Jesus. It means having the truth, living the truth – or seeing things like God. This also means being free – from all dark deceptions – being free from sin.

As Lent draws to a close, Tony says, it’s time to ask ourselves – what is truth for us? To follow Jesus and be set free or to be enslaved by whatever is our pride (whatever is our darkness)?