The Truth will Set You Free"

Today's Mass Readings

Today’s readings on the periphery seem to the disconnected. However, Jesus’ phrase “you will know the truth and the truth will set you free” (Jn 8:31), provides the overriding theme for today. What is the meaning of Jesus’ statement, “ the truth will set you free?” This reflection will try to provide an answer to that question. Right at the outset let us try to understand that meaning of “the truth.” The truth is simply the wisdom, the knowledge, the understanding to know who God is and who we are in relation to God. Once we come to the knowledge of who God is and who we are in relation to God, it provides the framework within which one can lead one’s life. There is a freedom that comes from knowing the framework within which to live one’s life.

The first reading and the gospel reading give us examples of those who neither understood God not their relationship with God. But there were others who did. Thus, Nebuchadnezzar wanted his entire nation to worship the golden statue that he set up. The three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, on the other hand, knew the “Living God.” The point is this – that even through Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were Nebuchadnezzar’s prisoners, from Jesus’ perspective, they are the ones who are truly free because they lived their life in relation to the God they knew. On the other hand, Nebuchadnezzar, even though the king, is the one who is really enslaved to the work of his own hands.

Jesus’ criticism of the Jews of his time revolved around the same theme. When he says to them, ““If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and am here” (Jn 8:41-42), Jesus is pointing out to them their lack of knowledge of God’s love and their lack of understanding of their relationship with God and one another.

Could Jesus’ criticism of the Jews be applicable to us? Only to the extent that we allow ourselves to be guided by any other power other than God’s word and God’s love. We are enslaved to the extent that our priorities are guided by wealth, greed, power, fame, lust and selfishness. “Truth can set us free” to the extent that we allow God to define the framework within which we can live our lives.

St. Alphonsus Liguori used to say, “Love God and do what you please.” In other words, if love of God guided our lives, then we would be free to live in a manner that would be consistent with God’s love. This is the truth that sets us free.

Let us pray that during the remaining days of Lent we will allow God’s truth to set us free.

- Fr. Satish Joseph