and the truth will set you free.” They answered him, “We are the descendants of Abraham and
have never been slaves of anyone. What do you mean by saying: You will be free?” Jesus
answered them, “Truly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave. But the slave doesn’t stay
in the house forever; the son stays forever. So, if the Son makes you free, you will be really free.
I know that you are the descendants of Abraham; yet you want to kill me because my word finds
no place in you. For my part, I speak of what I have seen in my Father’s presence, but you do
what you have learned from your father.” They answered him, “Our father is Abraham.” Then Jesus
said, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would do as Abraham did. But now you want to kill me,
the one who tells you the truth – the truth that I have learned from God. That is not what Abraham
did; what you are doing are the works of your father.” The Jews said to him, “We are not
illegitimate children; we have one Father God.” Jesus replied, “If God were your Father you would
love me, for I came forth from God, and I am here. And I didn’t come by my own decision, but it
was he himself who sent me.”
Reflect
“Stand against falsehood.” We live in a time when historical facts are denied and lies proliferate.
Social media platforms are used to scatter disinformation. Many people, unaware that they
are actually being targeted by the perpetuators of such disinformation, are caught up
in the web of falsehood. Their perception of reality is being distorted and their decisionmaking
is negatively affected. Hence, the lies that dominate social media become the reality of the
people who do not discern well. Moreover, the spread of fake news and disinformation has
adverse effects on society. It destroys communities. It is a grave sin. In today’s Gospel, Jesus
challenges us to keep his words if we truly are his disciples. Jesus’ true disciples build
communities. Furthermore, true communities can only be built on truth and never on lies. In
keeping his words, we shall know the truth and the truth will set us free. Jesus’ words expose
the devil as the father of lies (cf. Jn. 8:44). Jesus’ disciples must then keep his words by
discerning well between right and wrong and decide on the side of what is right and good.
As committed Christians, we have to stand against falsehood.
© Copyright Bible Diary 2024
