Join Msgr. Don Fischer as he reads and delivers a short reflection on today’s gospel, followed by 3 1/2 minutes of contemplative music and a closing prayer. Msgr. Don hopes that today’s reflection on the gospel will empower you to carry the Word in your heart throughout the day.

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Gospel
John 8:51-59

Jesus said to the Jews:
"Amen, amen, I say to you,
whoever keeps my word will never see death."
So the Jews said to him,
"Now we are sure that you are possessed.
Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say,
'Whoever keeps my word will never taste death.'
Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died?
Or the prophets, who died?
Who do you make yourself out to be?"
Jesus answered, "If I glorify myself, my glory is worth nothing;
but it is my Father who glorifies me,
of whom you say, 'He is our God.'
You do not know him, but I know him.
And if I should say that I do not know him,
I would be like you a liar.
But I do know him and I keep his word.
Abraham your father rejoiced to see my day;
he saw it and was glad."
So the Jews said to him,
"You are not yet fifty years old and you have seen Abraham?"
Jesus said to them, "Amen, amen, I say to you,
before Abraham came to be, I AM."
So they picked up stones to throw at him;
but Jesus hid and went out of the temple area.

Reflection

The sin of the Jews is that they claimed to know God, but they didn't. And whenever they spoke to the people about God, they were liars. And what Jesus talks about is the glory that is given to him. That he becomes fully an instrument of the truth.

He's who he is intended to be. That's the gift to be glorified by the father. The glory of Father is men and women, fully alive, fully who God intends to be filled with authenticity. This is the God we believe in. This is the God we need to turn to.

The Closing prayer

Father, bless us with an awareness of who you are with us in us, for us. Everything that we are called to become, you are there to enable us to be that very thing. Help us to be truth and love and an authentic human being just as you made us. And we ask this in Jesus name, Amen.

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