Jesus declares in today’s Gospel: “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.” In John’s Gospel truth is not an abstract concept but Jesus himself, his words and his actions: “I am the way and the truth and the life.” (John 14:6). True freedom is following the way of Jesus. This way is the way of service and sacrifice, compassion and love. This way of freedom is challenging because it means putting God’s will before everything, even my own will. It means washing one another’s feet:
“Do you realize what I have done for you? You call me ‘teacher’ and ‘master,’ and rightly so, for indeed I am. If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet.” (John 13:12-14)
True freedom is turning away from idols as we hear in today’s first reading from Daniel. While we may not literally fall down and worship statues or other idol figures we can make political or religious leaders, political parties, or other ideologies into our false gods. We need to respond to these “idols” in the words of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: “we will not serve your god or worship the golden statue that you set up.”
We need to view and judge all these leaders, parties, and ideologies through the words, actions, and teachings of Jesus. Do these political or religious leaders and/or parties show us the way of forgiveness, compassion, and love? Do they call us to a deeper love of God and our neighbor? Do they challenge us to love our enemy? If not then we must judge them as false idols. They will not and cannot show us the true way to freedom.
During this season of Lent, we are called to repent and believe in the Gospel, to turn and to trust in God. Today we are called to turn to Jesus, to follow his way, his way is truth, his way leads us to true freedom.
Image: “IMG_1890 Ford Madox Brown. 1821-1893. Jesus Washing Peter’s Feet. Le lavement des pieds. 1858. Londres Tate Britain.” by jean louis mazieres is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.