Daniel 3:14-20.24-25.28,
PSALM Daniel 3:29-30.31.33.32.34,
John 8:31-42 Full Readings
Saint Hugh of Grenoble
Everyone who commits sin is a slave
Brethren, Jesus asks us, do you want to be free? Yes, then truth will set you free? What's the truth? It is being truthful to your self by not committing sin and leaving away all hypocrisy.The questions of being free might look a simple one, we would automatically answer Yes when we are asked but mostly this is according to our secular understanding, of freedom as being able to do what you want and more so. But the freedom of what Jesus means is more than that, the freedom of heart, the tranquility of the soul, the freedom of living in truth and the freedom which secures us a place in the kingdom of heaven. This is the spiritual freedom.
Whoever sins us a slave to sin We are therefore slaves in one way or the other. The Jews wouldn't understand what Jesus meant by this, since they knew they were liberated from Egypt, they now live on their own and do whatever they wish. But indeed they were not free but slaves of sin.
However, even secularly speaking they were not absolutely free even us because nature also binds us to certain laws, like of death, no flying yourself from here to there, you have to eat, and other natural laws make us bind in one-way or the other. Even state laws also can not make you absolutely free.
We too normally say we are free: free to do whatever I wish with my life, free to rule my family as I want, free to work or not and things of a sort. It is this understanding of freedom that has even let us more to do more *sins* because we think we are free to kill anyone who comes in our way, rape, steal, take drugs, avoid church, treat people the way I want, put on the way I want even naked, insult others and live an individualistic life. This *freedom* indeed has made us lose the sense of *sin* making any sin as a usual and a normal thing. This is why Jesus says, we are *slaves of sin* and therefore we need Freedom, we are not free at all but enslaved.
Therefore, today Jesus asks us, do want to be free? Our answer ought to be Yes and if it's Yes, get ready to face the difficulty of this freedom, the freedom from sin requires a real sacrifice of oneself. Practically speaking, 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. But so often that momentary “satisfaction” is enough for many people to keep coming back.
So what about you? 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 dear, I tell it's like a surgery of getting from your body that cancer which eats you to claim that freedom.
Jesus claimed for us this freedom by taking away the sins of all the world, but it's not surprising that we have gone back to our work of sin and we have fallen into temptation of sins and made ourselves idols. We have not resisted to worship idols like the way Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego resisted to worship the idols of King Nebuchadnezzar. Indeed we are more slaves of sin than even those before Jesus.
To reclaim our freedom we have to shun those idols, with idols, I don't mean golden idols of the first Reading but they are the contemporary behaviours. Some music is still used to put us in the mood for sin, which is contrary to freedom (see Jn 8:34). TV and other visual stimuli can influence us to modify our behavior and thereby can rob us of our freedom. Nicotine, alcohol, caffeine, and other substances can alter our consciousness in subtle yet enslaving ways. Let us pray for the grace of God to identify the golden images in front of us and refuse to adore them. Is it money? Hunger for power? Unnecessary love of technology? Fellow human beings e.g leaders, rich people or secret spouses apart from your own husband/wife? There are also many ways we are leading bad examples and in a way leading people into sin. Let us examine ourselves.
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.
When we renew our baptismal promises on the first day of Easter, we will proclaim our freedom from Satan and our freedom to believe in the Holy Trinity. During the Easter season, we profess and live the ultimate freedom of the risen life. Finally, the Easter season culminates in Pentecost, when Jesus' apostles and disciples were freed from their fears and unbelief to leave the upper room and lead three-thousand people to Baptism into Christ and into the newborn Church.
Reflect, today, upon your attitude toward your own personal sins. First, can you humbly admit to your sin? Don’t rationalize them away or blame another. Face them and accept them as your own. Second, confess your sins. Reflect upon your attitude toward the Sacrament of Reconciliation. This is the Sacrament of freedom. It is so very easy. Just go in, admit all your sins, express sorrow and be set free. If you find this difficult then you are trusting your own feelings of fear rather than the truth. Third, rejoice in the freedom that the son of God offers. This is a sacrament of reconciliation, and we need it for our spiritual growth and preparations for the light of Easter.
Let's pray for our own self conversion and the freedom that God gives not human freedom. Lord I want to be free, free me by your truth. Amen.
Blessed Lenten period
LORD HEAL ME
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