The Fifth Wednesday of Lent

“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.”

We are all sinners and slaves to sin. However, Jesus can free us if we listen to and live out his gospel message. This is why it is so important to manifest the Word of God through our words and works. It is only by doing what is right and good that we can come to not only know the truth, but be freed by it as well. We might not recognize our slavery to sin for various reasons. We might blind ourselves to our failings or convince ourselves that what we are doing isn’t wrong. However, if we want to break the chains that bind us and keep us from becoming saintly people, then we must examine our conscience and seek to amend our lives. True freedom is not just the ability to choose between good and evil, but rather the ability to choose good over evil. Our hearts, minds, souls, and bodies are liberated by our good deeds because they imitate Christ and ground our being in the Truth.

What sins are we slaves to? How can we break our bondage to these sins? How do we make present the truth of the gospels in our thoughts, words, and works?

O Lord, we wish to remain always with you, to know the truth, and be set free by it.

Amen.