In our secular humanistic culture, many people associate freedom with doing what they want instead of what they ought. They connect freedom with lack of commitment, restrictions, or inhibitions in such mistaken expressions as "free time," "free trade," or "free love."
However, true freedom is not something we concoct but something we inherit. Freedom depends on our birth. In the culture present at the time of St. Paul, slavery was a major component of the economic and social system. It was obvious that people were either "born free" or born enslaved. Paul stated: "We are not children of a slave girl but of a mother who is free" (Gal 4:31).
Because of original sin and our fallen human nature, no one is born free. That is why to be free we must be born again from above through Baptism (Jn 3:3, 5). True freedom is based on living our baptismal promises, being confirmed in our baptismal identity, and overcoming temptations to sin and slavery by drawing on our baptismal graces. Therefore, "make disciples of all the nations. Baptize them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit" (Mt 28:19).
| PRAYER: | Father, may I use holy water to renew my Baptism deeply and daily. |
| PROMISE: | "At the preaching of Jonah they reformed, but you have a greater than Jonah here." –Lk 11:32 |
| PRAISE: | St. Teresa loved Jesus deeply. Near the end of her life, she exclaimed, "Oh, my Lord! How true it is that whoever works for You is paid in troubles! And what a precious price to those who love You if we understand its value." |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College