If God were your Father, you would certainly love me, because I came from God and came. I did not come on my own, but he sent me."

FIRST READING She sent her angel and freed her servants. Reading of the Prophecy of Daniel 3,14-20.24.49a.91-92.95 In those days, 14 King Nebuchadnezzar spoke and said: "It is true, Sidrac, Misac and Abdênago, that you do not worship my gods and do not worship the golden statue What did I order to be erected? 15 And now, when you hear the trumpet blowing, flute, zither, harp, psaltery and harmonicas, and all kinds of instruments, are you ready to prostrate yourselves and worship the statue that I ordered to be made? But if you do not worship, at the same instant you will be thrown into the fiery furnace; and who is the god that he will be able to free you from my hands?" 16 Sidrac, Misac and Abdênago They answered King Nebuchadnezzar: "There is no need for us to answer you about this: 17 if our God, to whom we worship, can deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, he will also be able to deliver us from your hands, O king. 18 But if he doesn't want to free us, know, O king, that we will not worship your gods nor will we worship the golden statue what you ordered to do." 19 To these words, Nebuchadnezzar was filled with anger against Sidrac, Misac and Abdênago, to the point of changing the expression on the face; he gave the order to light the furnace with seven times as much fire as usual; 20 and tasked the strongest soldiers in the army to bind Sidrac, Misac and Adbenago and cast them into the fiery furnace. 24 The three young men walked back and forth in the middle of the flames, singing hymns to God and blessing the Lord. 49a But the angel of the Lord had simultaneously descended into the furnace to Azariah and his companions. 91 King Nebuchadnezzar, Taken aback, he hurriedly stood up, and asked his ministers: "Didn't we throw three men tied tightly together? in the middle of the fire?" They replied to the king: "It is true, O king." 92 This one said: "But I see four men walking freely through the fire, without suffering any harm, and the appearance of the fourth man is similar to that of a child of God." 95 Nebuchadnezzar exclaimed: "Blessed be the God of Sidrac, Misac and Abdenago, who sent his angel and freed his servants, who put their trust in him and transgressed the king's decree, preferring to give their lives to serve and worship any other God that it was not his God." Word of the Lord. Responsorial psalm Dn 3,52.53-54,55.56-57 (R. 52b) R. To you praise, honor and glory eternally! 52 Be blessed, Lord God of our fathers.* To you praise, honor and glory eternally! Be blessed, holy and glorious name.* To you praise, honor and glory eternally! A. 53 In the holy temple where your glory shines.* To you praise, honor and glory eternally! 54 And on your throne of victorious power. * To you praise, honor and glory eternally! A. 55 Be blessed, who probe the depths * To you praise, honor and glory eternally! And you sit above the cherubim. * To you praise, honor and glory eternally! A. 56 Be blessed in the heavenly firmament.* To you praise, honor and glory eternally! A. 57 All works of the Lord, glorify him.* To him praise, honor and glory eternally! A. Acclamation to the Gospel Cf. Lc 8,15 R. Honor, glory, power and praise to Jesus, our God and Lord. V. Happy are those who observe the word of the Lord, with an upright heart, and which bear much fruit, persevering until the end! GOSPEL If the Son sets you free, you will be truly free. Proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to John 8:31-42 In that time, 31 Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him: "If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." 33 They responded: "We are descendants of Abraham, and we were never slaves to anyone. How can you say: 'You will be free'?" 34 Jesus replied: "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. 35 The slave does not remain in a family forever, but the child remains in her forever. 36 If therefore the Son sets you free, you will be truly free. 37 I know that you are descendants of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me, because my word is not accepted by you. 38 I speak what I saw with the Father; and you do what you heard from your father." 39 They then responded: "Our father is Abraham." Jesus said to them: "If you are children of Abraham, do the works of Abraham! 40 But now you seek to kill me, that I told you the truth that I heard from God. This, Abraham did not do. 41 You do the works of your father." They then said to him: "We were not born of adultery, We have only one father: God." 42 Jesus answered them: "If God were your Father, you would certainly love me, because it is from God that I came and have come. I didn't come by myself, but it was he who sent me." Word of Salvation.

GOSPEL If the Son sets you free, you will be truly free. Proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to John 8:31-42 In that time, 31 Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him: "If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." 33 They responded: "We are descendants of Abraham, and we were never slaves to anyone. How can you say: 'You will be free'?" 34 Jesus replied: "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. 35 The slave does not remain in a family forever, but the child remains in her forever. 36 If therefore the Son sets you free, you will be truly free. 37 I know that you are descendants of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me, because my word is not accepted by you. 38 I speak what I saw with the Father; and you do what you heard from your father." 39 They then responded: "Our father is Abraham." Jesus said to them: "If you are children of Abraham, do the works of Abraham! 40 But now you seek to kill me, that I told you the truth that I heard from God. This, Abraham did not do. 41 You do the works of your father." They then said to him: "We were not born of adultery, We have only one father: God." 42 Jesus answered them: "If God were your Father, you would certainly love me, because it is from God that I came and have come. I didn't come by myself, but it was he who sent me." Word of Salvation.