Homily For Wednesday Fifth Week of Lent Year B, 20th March, 2024

Readings: Dan. 3:14-20,24-25,28; Ps.: Dan. 3:52-56; John:8:31-42

Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia.

 

WHY HAVE WE REFUSED TO LEARN THE TRUTH AND BE FREE FROM THE SINFUL THINGS OF THIS PASSING WORLD?

 

As our Lenten season draws closer to the events of Holy Week, the Gospel reading continues with the contentious dialogue between Jesus and the Jews. Here Jesus told the Jews who believed in him that if they continue to know his word, they will learn the truth and the truth will set them free. But the Pharisees take offense at this statement. That as descendants of Abraham they were free and never slaves to anyone. But this is not the case. In fact, the Jews were continuously enslaved to foreign powers.

 

Nevertheless, Jesus is talking about a different kind of freedom, that is freedom from the slavery of sin. Sin makes us salves to devil. To be free from sin is the desire of every disciple of Christ and this freedom comes from knowing the truth found in the word of God. This is the truth that kept  Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego from succumbing to the request of  King Nebuchadnezzar to worship the status he has made as we heard in our first reading today. So, they answered: if our God, the one we serve, is able to save us from the burning fiery furnace and from your power, O king, he will save us; and even if he does not, then you must know, O king, that we will not serve your god or worship the statue you have erected.’

 

Dear friends, these men stood for what they belief. Because they have learnt the truth and are free from the sinful things of this passing world. We too are called today to embrace the truth found in the word of God and be free from sin. We are called to stand for the truth we have found in Christ. We are called to defend the faith we profess in Christ. But how many of us who want to be disciples of Christ have truly made his word our home? How much of his word resides in us? Have we not  personally experienced the Lord’s mercy and love through the scriptures? Therefore, we are called to be more devoted and pay heed to the instructions of Jesus who tells us to be truly faithful to God.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord Jesus, help us to have a personal experience of you through the scriptures and so develop deeper love and interest in your word and find in it true freedom, happiness and peace especially in this challenging moment in our world. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Wishing you the best of God’s favour and blessings.