Tension Rising

In today's Gospel reading the tension is certainly mounting.  Jesus starts off by saying that the truth will set you free. Right away the Pharisees have a problem, "We're not slaves," they retort. Jesus tells them, yes you are - you are slaves to sin. "Anyone who commits sin is a slave to sin." 

Of course this gets them heated. The Pharisee usually plays the hot headed ego who think that doing the things of the law amounts to a perfect life (I'm sure none of us have ever had that idea). Just to make things really clear, Jesus calls them out and "blows their cover." "You are trying to kill me." They thought they were being pretty discreet I imagine (always trying to be cunning and cover their tracks with smooth talk - I'm sure you've never done that.) Alas, when you are not in the truth you make all sorts of mistakes. Two things are the most obvious in the world: love and hate. Theirs wasn't love.

Jesus goes on, and tells them that Abraham wouldn't do such a thing. So, you're not Abraham's sons. Then the real eye-opener, "you are doing the works of your father!"  This line jumps out at me like a double edged sword. These similar words were recently uttered by our Pope Francis: If we do not proclaim Jesus, we proclaim the devil. The other edge of the sword: if you are not with Me, you are against Me.

The Pharisees are becoming cornered, so in a last ditch effort they claim to be sons of God, because they have only one real father: the Lord. Not sure why they thought they'd get away with this, since Abraham was too good for them. However, the lesson here is for us, because Christ's response was simple: If God was your Father, you would love me." 

The drama continues tomorrow, as the tension escalates to the cross. Our primary concern: Who is our Father?