Message of the Day
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Too many of us in this culture are enslaved by things. The only way for a Christian to live in an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that their very existence is an act of rebellion. There is nothing more maddening than a free person.
- Brennan
Manning
(Are you free? What possessions do you cling to? Consider these and give them to God.)
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Readings of the Day
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EZ 1:2-5, 24-28; PS
148:1-2, 11-14; MT 17:22-27
R. Heaven and earth are filled with your glory.
Praise the LORD from the heavens;
praise him in the heights;
Praise him, all you his
angels;
praise him, all you his hosts.
Let the kings of the earth and all peoples,
the princes and all the judges of the earth,
Young men too, and maidens,
old men and boys,
Praise the name of the LORD,
for his name alone is exalted;
His majesty is above earth and heaven.
And he has lifted up the horn of his
people.
Be this his praise from all his faithful ones,
from the children of Israel, the people close to him.
Alleluia.
USCCB lectionary
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Reflection on the Gospel
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Why must the Messiah be rejected and killed? Did not God promise that his Anointed One would deliver his people from their oppression and establish a
kingdom of peace and justice? The prophet Isaiah had foretold that it was God's will that the "Suffering Servant" make atonement for sins through his suffering and death. Jesus paid the price for our redemption with his blood. Slavery to sin is to want the wrong things and to be in bondage to destructive desires. The ransom Jesus paid sets us free from the worst tyranny possible - the tyranny of sin and the fear of death. Jesus' victory did not end with death but triumphed over the tomb. Jesus
defeated the powers of death through his resurrection. Do you want the greatest freedom possible, the freedom to live as God truly meant us to live as his sons and daughters?Why must the Messiah be rejected and killed? Did not God promise that his Anointed One would deliver his people from their oppression and establish a kingdom of peace and justice? The prophet Isaiah had foretold
that it was God's will that the "Suffering Servant" make atonement for sins through his suffering and death. Jesus paid the price for our redemption with his blood. Slavery to sin is to want the wrong things and to be in bondage to destructive desires. The ransom Jesus paid sets us free from the worst tyranny possible - the tyranny of sin and the fear of death. Jesus' victory did not end with death but triumphed over the tomb. Jesus defeated the powers of death through his resurrection. Do you
want the greatest freedom possible, the freedom to live as God truly meant us to live as his sons and daughters?
"Lord Jesus, your death brought life and freedom. May I always walk in that freedom and be guided by your love and truth that I may be generous towards all and give each their due.
- from dailyscripture.netLord Jesus,
your death brought life and freedom. May I always walk in that freedom and be guided by your love and truth that I may be generous towards all and give each their due."
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Spiritual Reading
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Freedom from Codependency, by Philip St. Romain
Chapter 6: What is Christian Love?
- part 2 of 12
- Dysfunctional Beliefs About Love -
part 1 of 5
In reflecting on the meaning of Christian love, it will be helpful to consider some common distortions about love. If these distortions become part of one's value system, they can lead to codependent behaviors.
First, Christian love is not codependency.
Christian love does not call for a giving of yourself that enables another to act irresponsibly, nor is it about impressing others or trying to get their approval. Christian love does not call for a "laying down one's life for one's friends" that results in a negation of your giftedness and uniqueness.
Certain teachings commonly heard in Christian circles, however, can lead to an unhealthy giving of self in
practice. Some of these teachings are listed below:
* "I am my neighbor's keeper."
The codependent interprets this as meaning that we are responsible for one another's feelings and happiness. A healthy understanding is that we are all interdependent and have the responsibility to help victims of
injustice.
* "Love equals good works."
The distortion is that only those who do good works can be said to be loving. If, in addition, we define what those good works would be, then we would judge people according to whether or not they're doing those works. Of course, it is possible to do good works and be empty or
resentful inside. That is a further distortion of this Christian motto. Those who love WILL do good works, but not all good works are done in love.
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