Daily Gospel Reflection for March 20, 2024

Join us as we reflect, ponder, and pray together inspired by today's Gospel.

Today's Gospel: John 8:31-42

Jesus has some harsh words for the Jews (and us) in today’s Gospel. He is rebuking them for rejecting Him and His message, instead choosing to be enslaved to sin.

It’s easy to point fingers at the Jews standing there in the presence of Jesus and wonder how they could have rejected the Son of God. After all, they had the opportunity to hear Him preach and see His miracles firsthand. They had a front-row seat to His ministry and yet they still chose sin. How could they be so foolish?

And yet, don’t we do the same thing? We have all the teachings of Jesus and His presence in the Eucharist and we still often choose sin because it seems like the better, easier choice. We want to do what we want to do. Isn’t that what being free means?

But sin always complicates things. Disobeying the commandments makes life worse. We feel guilty. We get caught in a web of lies and subterfuge. One sin leads to another and soon we don’t know how to escape the chaos that binds us.

Fortunately for us, Jesus has offered us a path out of slavery, even when we have once again been shackled by our sins. He offers us His mercy in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. We need only ask for His forgiveness and our souls are once again set truly free.

Ponder:

What chains of sin are currently keeping you from true freedom? When can you get to the Sacrament of Reconciliation to ask for God’s forgiveness?

Pray:

Dear Jesus, I’m sorry for the times I reject the true freedom You offer me. Please forgive me and help me follow You more closely.

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Fortunately for us, Jesus has offered us a path out of slavery, even when we have once again been shackled by our sins. #DailyGospel

Copyright 2024 Patrice Fagnant-MacArthur