Wednesday of the
Fifth Week of Lent
(Daniel 3:14-20.91-92.95; John 8:31-42)
In a Jewish Seder Supper the question is asked if slaves
exist today. The answer given is yes, “There
are many kinds of slaves today.” Then
the ritual gives four examples: slaves of 1) social injustice, 2) prejudice, 3)
of poverty and inequality, and 4) of laziness, envy or jealousy. It seems this last kind of slavery that Jesus
has in mind when he tells the Jews in today’s gospel, “’…everyone who commits
sin is a slave of sin.’”
Sin curtails away human freedom by moving evil-doers away
from what they know to be good for all. It allows them some self-satisfaction
in exchange for living in coherency with the truth. Because of its pleasurable appeal sin has the
recurrent effect of keeping sinners attached to itself. The Jewish boys in today’s first reading know
better than to get entangled in it. Even
at the probable cost of their lives they refuse to sin and can die in integrity
with their most deeply held beliefs.
We should find ourselves emerging from sinful tendencies
at this point in Lent. By prayer and
self-mortification we have prepared ourselves for radical identification with
Christ. He has overcome sin and death
which sin brings about. Undergoing the
paschal experience with him we will live forever as free women and men.
