If you were Abraham's children, you would be doing the works of Abraham

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. 

Book of Daniel 3:52.53.54.55.56. 

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. 

Blessed are you in the temple of your holy glory, 

praiseworthy and exalted above all forever. 

Blessed are you on the throne of your kingdom, 

praiseworthy and exalted above all forever.

Blessed are you who look into the depths 

from your throne upon the cherubim; 

praiseworthy and exalted above all forever.

Blessed are you in the firmament of heaven, 

praiseworthy and glorious forever.

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 8:31-42. 

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. 

"If you were Abraham's children, you would be doing the works of Abraham"

Abraham followed God the first time he was called. He did not make himself a judge of the word addressed to him. His attachments to his family and relatives did not hold him back, nor love of his country and friends or any other human bond. But as soon as he heard the word and knew it was of God, he listened to it with simplicity and his faith held it as true. Despising everything else he set out with the innocence of a nature that does not seek to deceive or do evil. He ran towards God’s word like a child to its father… 

God had said to him: “Go forth from the land of your kinsfolk and your father’s house to a land that I will show you” (Gn 12:1). It was to bring about the triumph of Abraham’s faith and make his simplicity shine that God did not reveal to him to which land he was calling him. He seemed to be leading him towards Canaan and yet the promise spoke of another country, of that life which is in the heavens. Saint Paul attests of it: “He was looking forward to the city with firm foundations, whose architect and makes is God” (Heb 11:10)… Better still, in order to show us more clearly that this promise did not concern an earthly homeland, God, after bringing out Abraham from his own homeland in Ur of the Chaldeans, did not immediately lead him into the land of Canaan but made him first dwell at Haran. Nor did he reveal to him straight away the name of the country to which he was leading him and thus Abraham did not leave Chaldea drawn merely by a reward. 

Therefore, O disciple, consider Abraham’s going forth and that your own resembles his! Do not delay to answer the living voice of Christ calling you. In former days he spoke only to Abraham; today, through the Gospel, he calls all those who wish, inviting them to go out after him, for his call applies to all… Formerly he chose Abraham alone; today he asks everyone to imitate Abraham.