The Gospel According to John 8:31-42
“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 were not born of fornication. 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.”
Reflection: Today I would like to share this prayer by Cardinal John Henry Newman.” Dear Lord, help me to spread your fragrance wherever I go. Flood my soul with your spirit and life. Penetrate and possess my whole being so utterly that all my life may only be a radiance of yours. Shine through me and be so in me that every soul I encounter may feel your presence in my soul. Let them look
up and see no longer me but only you, O Lord! Stay with me, and then I will begin to shine as you do, to shine as a light to others. The light, O Lord, will be all from you; none of it will be mine. It will be you shining on others through me. Let me thus praise you in the way which you love best by shining on those around me. Let me preach you without preaching, not by words but by example, by the catching force, the sympathetic influence of what I do, and the evident fullness of my heart’s love for you.” Amen.
Action of the Day: Today, I would like you to close your eyes and imagine your heart as it is filled with clutter. Then, ask the Lord to empty your heart and fill it with light, beauty, and love. Then allow yourself to leave this moment of prayer with renewed fervor and be a conduit of your love to every soul you meet today.
Audio Reflection:
