Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Lent

Official Translation

Reading 1 – Daniel 3.14-20, 91-92, 95

King Nebuchadnezzar said:
“Is it on purpose,
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego,
that you do not serve my god,
nor worship the golden image
which I have set up?

Now if you are ready
whenever you hear the sound of the
horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe,
and all kinds of music
to fall down and worship the image
which I have made, very well,
but if you do not worship,
you shall be cast the same hour
into the middle of a burning fiery furnace;
and who is the god that shall
deliver you out of my hands?

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego
answered the king, “Nebuchadnezzar,
we have no need to answer you in this matter.
If our God whom we serve
is able to deliver us
from the burning fiery furnace;
may he will deliver us out of your hand, O king.
But if not, let it be known to you, O king,
that we will not serve your gods,
nor worship the golden image
which you have set up.

Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with fury,
and the form of his face was changed
against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
He spoke and commanded
that they should heat the furnace
seven times more than it was usually heated.
He commanded certain mighty men
who were in his army
to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego,
and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace.

Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonished,
and rose up in haste:
he spoke and said to his counselors,
“Did we not cast three bound men
into the middle of the fire?”
They answered the king,
“True, O king.”
He answered,
“Look, I see four men loose,
walking in the middle of the fire,
and they are unharmed;
and the fourth looks like a son of God.”

Nebuchadnezzar spoke and said,
“Blessed be the God
of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego,
who has sent his angel,
and delivered his servants who trusted in him.
They disobeyed the king’s word,
and yielded their bodies,
that they might not serve nor worship any god,
except their own God.”

Responsorial – Daniel 3.52, 53, 54, 55, 56 Resp. 52b

R. Glory and praise above all forever

Blessed art thou, O Lord the God of our fathers:
worthy to be praised and glorified and exalted above all forever.
And blessed is the holy name of your glory,
praiseworthy and exalted above all in all ages.

R. Glory and praise above all forever

Blessed are you in the holy temple of your glory,
and exceedingly praiseworthy and exceedingly glorious forever.

R. Glory and praise above all forever

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

R. Glory and praise above all forever

Blessed are you who beholds the depths,
and is seated above the cherubim
praiseworthy and exalted above all forever.

R. Glory and praise above all forever

Blessed are you in the firmament of heaven,
and worthy of praise and glorious forever.

R. Glory and praise above all forever

Gospel – John 8.31-42

Jesus said to those Jews who had believed him,
“If you remain in my word,
then you are truly my disciples.
You will know the truth,
and the truth will make you free.”

They answered him,
“We are Abraham’s seed,
and have never been in bondage to anyone.
What do you mean, ‘You will be made free’?”

Jesus answered them,
“Amen, amen I say to you,
everyone who commits sin
is the slave of sin.
A slave does not live in the house forever.
A son remains forever.
If therefore the Son makes you free,
you will be free indeed.
I know that you are Abraham’s seed,
yet you seek to kill me,
because my word finds no place in you.
I say the things which I have seen with my Father;
and you also do the things
which you have seen with your father.”

They answered him, “Our father is Abraham.”

Jesus said to them,
“If you were Abraham’s children,
you would do the works of Abraham.
But now you seek to kill me,
a man who has told you the truth,
which I heard from God.
Abraham did not do this.
You do the works of your father.”

They said to him,
“We were not begotten by perversity.
We have one Father, God.”

So Jesus said to them,
“If God were your father,
you would love me,
for I came out and have come from God.
For I have not come on my own, but he sent me.”