|
Today's Readings
Reading I
Dn 3:14-20, 91-92, 95
King Nebuchadnezzar said: “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and
Abednego, that you will not serve my god, or worship the golden
statue that I set up? Be ready now to fall down and worship the
statue I had made, whenever you hear the sound of the trumpet,
flute, lyre, harp, psaltery, bagpipe, and all the other musical
instruments; otherwise, you shall be instantly cast into the
white-hot furnace; and who is the God who can deliver you out of my
hands?” Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered King
Nebuchadnezzar, “There is no need for us to defend ourselves before
you in this matter. If our God, whom we serve, can save us from the
white-hot furnace and from your hands, O king, may he save us! But
even if he will not, know, O king, that we will not serve your god
or worship the golden statue that you set up.” King
Nebuchadnezzar’s face became livid with utter rage against Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abednego. He ordered he furnace to be heated seven
times more than usual and had some of the strongest men in his army
bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and cast them into the
white-hot furnace. Nebuchadnezzar rose in haste and asked his
nobles, “Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?” “Assuredly,
O king,” they answered. “But,” he replied, “I see four men
unfettered and unhurt, walking in the fire, and the fourth looks
like a son of God.” Nebuchadnezzar exclaimed, “Blessed be the God of
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who sent his angel to deliver the
servants who trusted in him; they disobeyed the royal command and
yielded their bodies rather than serve or worship any god except
their own God.”
Responsorial Psalm
Daniel 3:52, 53, 54, 55, 56
R. (52b) Glory and praise for ever! “Blessed are you, O Lord,
the God of our fathers, praiseworthy and exalted above all forever;
And blessed is your holy and glorious name, praiseworthy and exalted
above all for all ages.” R. Glory and praise for ever!
“Blessed are you in the temple of your holy glory, praiseworthy and
exalted above all forever. R. Glory and praise for ever!
“Blessed are you on the throne of your kingdom, praiseworthy and
exalted above all forever.” R. Glory and praise for ever!
“Blessed are you who look into the depths from your throne upon the
cherubim; praiseworthy and exalted above all forever.” R. Glory
and praise for ever! “Blessed are you in the firmament of
heaven, praiseworthy and glorious forever.” R. Glory and praise
for ever!
Gospel
Jn 8:31-42
Jesus said to those Jews who believed in him, “If you remain in my
word, you will truly be my disciples, and you will know the truth,
and the truth will set you free.” They answered him, “We are
descendants of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How
can you say, ‘You will become free’?” Jesus answered them, “Amen,
amen, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin. A
slave does not remain in a household forever, but a son always
remains. So if the Son frees you, then you will truly be free. I
know that you are descendants of Abraham. But you are trying to kill
me, because my word has no room among you. I tell you what I have
seen in the Father’s presence; then do what you have heard from the
Father.” They answered and said to him, “Our father is
Abraham.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you
would be doing the works of Abraham. But now you are trying to kill
me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God; Abraham
did not do this. You are doing the works of your father!” So they
said to him, “We were not born of fornication. We have one Father,
God.” Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love
me, for I came from God and am here; I did not come on my own, but
he sent me.” |
