FREEDOM IN CHRIST! ~ CookingFood.Org

“GENEROUS LENT 2017”

Lenten Reflections

Wednesday, 5^thApril 2017.

Fifth Week of Lent

Dan 3: 14-20, 24-25, 28;

Dan 3: 52-56;

Jn 8: 31-42.

FREEDOM IN CHRIST!

Freedom is something that is greatly valued by all. True freedom is essential for human dignity and it is only in freedom that a person can direct himself to goodness. It is an exceptional sign of the divine image in us. However, freedom is often wrongly understood as doing whatever one pleases. A lot of evil, oppression and domination are done under the name of freedom, and the innocent suffer from different types of bondages. In reality, freedom is our capacity to choose the best.

In the first reading, we see two types of bondages. We see how Daniel suffers from external bondage from the impious demands of the king, while the king and his subjects suffer from the bondage of interior blindness in faith. At the same time we see the interior freedom of Daniel and his companions. Despite being bound they were free to do the will of God. This freedom comes from their commitment to the truth of the divine presence and the power of God.

Ddo you want to be set free? On an intellectual level this should be an easy question to answer. But on a practical level this question is harder to answer. Many people are very comfortable living in sin. Sin offers a deceptive satisfaction that can be hard to turn away from. Sin can make you “feel” good in the moment, even though the long-term effects are that it strips your freedom and joy. So, do you want to be free so as to live as a son or daughter of the Most High God? If you answer “Yes” then be prepared for this to be painful, but in a delightful way.

Overcoming sin requires purification. The process of “letting go” of sin requires true sacrifice and commitment. It requires you to turn to the Lord in absolute trust and abandon. In doing so you experience a sort of death to yourself, to your passions and to your own selfish will. This hurts, at least on the level of your fallen human nature. But it’s like a surgery that has the goal of removing cancer or some infection. The surgery itself may hurt, but it’s the only way to be freed of the malady you have. Jesus is the Divine Surgeon and the way He sets you free is through His own suffering and death. Jesus’ Crucifixion and death brought life into the world.

Lent is a time, more than any, in which you must honestly focus on your sin for the reason of identifying those things that keep you bound, so that you can invite the Divine Physician to enter your wounds and heal you. Do not let Lent go by without honestly examining your conscience thoroughly, and repenting of your sins with all your heart. The Lord wants you to be free! Desire it yourself and enter the process of purification so that you will be relieved of your heavy burdens.

Prayer: Lord, I do desire to be set free from all sin so that I may live in the freedom of being Your child. Help me, dear Lord, to face my sin with honesty and openness. Give me the courage I need to admit my sin in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, so that I may rejoice in all that You have bestowed upon me through Your suffering and death. Jesus, I trust in You. Amen.