Daily Gospel for April 1. Readings for today, Wednesday. John 8:31-42

Reading for today, April 1, Wednesday.

Reading of Book of Daniel 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 that 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 which you set up." Nebuchadnezzar´s face became livid with utter rage against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He ordered the 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. King 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 that trusted in him; they disobeyed the royal command and yielded their bodies rather than serve or worship any god except their own God

Daily Psalms. Daniel 3,52.53.54.55.56.

(R). "To Thee be glory and praise forever."

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). 

Blessed are you in the temple of your holy glory, praiseworthy and exalted above all forever. (R).

Blessed are you on the throne of your kingdom, praiseworthy and exalted above all forever. (R).

Blessed are you who look into the depths from your throne upon the cherubim; praiseworthy and exalted above all forever. (R).

Blessed are you in the firmament of heaven, praiseworthy and glorious forever. (R).

Daily Gospel Acclamation.

"Praise and honour to you, Lord Jesus! Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. Praise and honour to you, Lord Jesus (Cf Mt 4:4)

Daily Gospel for April 1. John 8:31-42.

Reading for today Gospel - 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 a 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 are not illegitimate. 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. 

Daily Gospel Commentaries by Pope Francis.

About today´s Gospel, we can and should judge situations of sin, violence, corruption, exploitation, etc., but we cannot judge people, because only God can read their hearts in depth.

Our task is to admonish those who make mistakes, denouncing the evil and injustice of certain behaviors, in order to free the victims and to raise up the fallen.

The Gospel of John reminds us that the truth will set you free. This truth is ultimately Christ himself, whose sweet mercy is the model for our way of proclaiming truth and condemning injustice. Our primary task is to affirm the truth with love.

Only words spoken with love and accompanied by meekness and mercy touch the hearts of those of us who are sinners.

Harsh and moralistic words and gestures run the risk of plunging even further those whom we would like to lead to conversion and freedom, reinforcing their sense of denial and defence.

Some think that a vision of society rooted in mercy is unjustifiably idealistic or overly indulgent. But let us try to reflect on our first experiences of relationships within the family.

Parents have loved and appreciated us more for who we are than for our abilities and our successes. Parents naturally want the best for their own children, but their love is never conditioned by the achievement of goals.

The parental home is the place where you are always welcomed. I would like to encourage everyone to think of human society not as a space where strangers compete and seek to prevail, but rather as a home or a family, where the door is always open and where its members welcome each other. (Message for World Communications Day 2016)

Pope´s quotes.

"The Lord frees and heals the heart, if we call on Him with humility and trust." (03.31.2020 - @pontifex)

Daily Gospel, meditation in video for April 1.