Truly Free

Wednesday of the 5th Week of Lent

Daniel 3:14-20, 91-92, 95; John 8:31-42

 

We hear a lot in this country about freedom. 

For many people freedom means to be able to do anything they want, with whomever they want, whenever they want.

But that’s not freedom.  That’s license—a misuse of freedom.

The freedom that Jesus talks about in our gospel reading is a paradoxical freedom.  The more we have faith in God and depend on God, the more freedom that we have. 

The three young men in the furnace were bound hand and foot by the king.   But they were free, because they had the power that comes from God.

We only have a few more days of Lent.  We have fasted, prayed and performed acts of mercy.  All these things demand something of us.  In some ways, they limit our worldly freedom.  But we hope that they strengthen our spiritual freedom.

Lord Jesus, make us free...truly free.