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4/09/2014

36^th Day of Lent: April 9, 2014: “Truth will set you free”

In the Gospel of John, sin is defined as slavery.

We are enslaved to a foreign power that takes away our psychological and spiritual freedom. Precisely because of this St. Paul tells us “What happens is that I do, not the good I will to do but the evil I do not intend. But if I do what is against my will, it is not what I who do it, but sin which dwells in me” (Romans 7:19-20).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5VAP5-ju0k

When we reflect upon some of our bad habits like lust, pride, greed, self-centeredness and sloth we realize how powerful a grip these have in our lives. It is so hard to set one free from these powerful forces.

In the first reading we have a perfect slave in the person of King Nebuchadnezzar, a perfect narcissist who made a golden statue of himself and set it up to be worshiped by others.

We have in the three young men a perfect picture of three obedient, free and faithful followers of Yahweh who refused to worship none but God alone.

There is Truth and Freedom embodied in these men who danced with the angels in the hot fiery furnace rather than worship the statue.

The Son of God is giving his opponents a chance to see Truth and set themselves free from slavery to sin, disobedience, stubbornness of heart. They are enslaved to their own misconceptions, blindness and arrogance.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcnfT4arZtI

When we begin to follow Christ, we have to let the Word ‘take root in our hearts’ and allow thus to be dominated by the Power of the Holy Spirit. This will pave way for a complete freedom and joy that have in the Spirit.

This whole season of lent is a freedom trip recognizing within ourselves the grip of the evil one and allowing God the Son to step in to break the chains that enslave us.