Daily Catholic Lectio
Wed, 20 March 2024
Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Lent
Daniel 3:14-20, 24-25, 28. John 8:31-42
Freedom
Jesus always upheld ‘freedom’ as the ultimate virtue or value. He respected the freedom of individuals, and he wanted everyone to enjoy one’s own freedom and respect that of others.
He gave physical freedom when he healed a person ill for 38 years at the pool of Bethesda; he gave intellectual freedom to his disciples by explaining to them what his messiahship entailed – not in glory but in suffering; he gave spiritual freedom to Martha of Bethany when he said, ‘only one thing is necessary.’
The gospel reading of the day revolves around the word ‘freedom.’ Jesus tells the Jews, ‘Truth will set you free.’ But they understand at another level and respond, ‘We have never been slaves to anyone.’ In fact, when they said this, they were lying, for they were slaves to Egyptians, Assyrians, Babylonians, and now, in the time of Jesus, to the Romans.
They, too, said that they were children of Abraham. Since they did not have the faith of Abraham, they are liars here as well.
Jesus takes the argument to the spiritual level: ‘One who sins is a slave to sin.’ Jesus teaches them to understand internal and spiritual freedom. In the gospel of John, ‘sin’ also means ‘lack of belief in Jesus.’ In the first reading, the three young men – Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego – are let loose physically in the fiery furnace because they were spiritually free to accept one true God. Their external freedom was possible through their internal freedom.
We must value freedom above all other values or virtues, and we must respect the freedom of our neighbours.
Jesus, through his passion, death, and resurrection, has given us freedom from sin. Let no sin rule over us. We are not punished for our sins; we are punished by our sins. Our sin itself is the punishment. There was no punishment for Saul when he was envious of David. Envy itself was the punishment for Saul, and envy ruined his life. There was no punishment for David when he yielded to lust. Lust itself was the punishment for David, and lust ruined his life. In the end, Bathsheba took control of his life.
Saint Augustine warns, ‘When a habit is not curtailed, it may become a necessity.’ Stealing may be a habit, but if not curtailed, it may become a necessity.
Though the Lord has liberated us from the ‘sin’, we need to liberate ourselves from individual sins. It requires a lot of courage and perseverance.
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“For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery” (Galatians 5:1). (Jubilee A. D. 2025, bite 58)
Fr. Yesu Karunanidhi
Archdiocese of Madurai
Missionary of Mercy
Yesu Karunanidhi 
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