Greetings Prayer Warriors,
As we approach Independence Day, I’ve been reflecting on
“freedom”.
There is the secular definition of freedom as found in the
dictionary. (Merriam-Webster Online)
- the absence of necessity, coercion, or constraint in choice or action
- liberation from slavery or restraint or from the power of another
- the quality or state of being exempt or released usually from something onerous
- the quality of being frank, open, or outspoken
However, there lacks in this definition any responsibility to one
another.
But if you go on biting and devouring one another, beware
that you are not consumed by one another.
Galatians 5:15
“The exercise of freedom does not imply a right to say or do
everything. It is false to maintain that man, the subject of this freedom, is
an individual who is fully self-sufficient and whose finality is the
satisfaction of his own interests in the enjoyment of earthly goods… By
deviating from the moral law, man violates his own freedom, becomes imprisoned
within himself, disrupts neighborly fellowship, and rebels against divine truth.”
(CCC 1740)
For it is the will of God that by doing good you may
silence the ignorance of foolish people. Be free, yet without using freedom as a pretext for evil,
but as slaves of God. 1 Peter 2:15-16
We find true freedom when we submit our lives to Him.
“…the more docile we are to the promptings of grace, the
more we grow in inner freedom and confidence during trials, such as those we
face in the pressures and constraints of the outer world.” (CCC 1742)
Lord, in prayer we lift
up our families to you: our biological families, our adopted families, our
spiritual families, and all of God’s children.
Shower us with your grace and infuse us with your love, so that we can
pour it back out to one another. May we
focus on our commonalities, not our differences. May we always seek to do good, allowing You to
shine through us to others. May all your
lost sheep be guided into the freedom of your sheepfold. For this we pray, now and forever. Amen.
Peace, Joy, and Love,
Janet
We become free when we submit ourselves as slaves to God who
loves us! Pass it on!
