Freedom

Readings for Wednesday March 24, 2010

First Readings: Daniel 3:14-20, 91-92, 95
Responsorial Psalm: Daniel 3:52
Gospel: 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 the 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. (Jn 8:31-37)

This may come as a shock to you, but our world is kind of backwards. Our thinking towards God and sin are completely backwards. The standard thought among most people is that if they give into their desires and passions (committing sin), then that is what will liberate them. People think that by just doing whatever they want and giving in to things, that this is what will give them the freedom that they so desperately want. The truth is that this thinking is backwards. Because giving into sin, just leads to more sin, and before you know it you are a slave to that sin. When we give in to more and more sin, all we do is bring pain and destruction into our lives and the lives of others.

If we truly want to be liberated and to be free, then we must accept who we are. We are children of God, and as children we need to be obedient to our Father who loves us. While it is totally against everything the world tells us, if we give ourselves to Him and are obedient to Him; then that is how we will be liberated and find the freedom that we want. When we choose to follow God, instead of ourselves, then we are not bound to things that enslave us, but rather we find our purpose and the life that we were meant to have. It is His truth that will set us free, not our own version of the truth.

Jesus came to free us from sin, for this we need to be eternally grateful. Let us find our freedom as children of God by going against the worldview of freedom and giving into Christ's view of freedom.

Father above, we thank you and praise you for the gift of this day. Lord, thank you for all that you have blessed us with and all that you have given. Lord, we are not deserving of being called your sons and daughters, but you accept us and want us anyway. Help us to never stray from you, and help us persevere to the end. We pray for all of our priests and religious. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.