Monday in the Twenty-Eighth Week of Ordinary time

“For freedom, Christ set us free; so, stand firm and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery” (Gal. 5:1). When He died on the cross, Jesus did for us what we could not do for ourselves. He who is nearest the Father’s heart set us free from bondage to sin and death. The Beloved Son took our broken humanity to himself so we might share his divinity. Because of the glory shining on the face of Christ, we can reflect the image and likeness of our creator. Because of Christ’s self-sacrificing love, we have been set free from the dominion of sin and death. Many of us remember the MLK’s I Have a Dream speech. “When we allow freedom to ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God’s children, Black men and white men, Jews, and Gentiles, Protestants, and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual: Free at last. Free at last. Thank God almighty, we are free at last” (Martin Luther King, Jr., I Have a Dream).

Our freedom was purchased at a great price, the death of Christ. Because of his infinite love and mercy, we have gained sanity of mind and peace in our souls. The cost to us is total surrender to his will and care. Transformed by His love, we can be used as channels of His love in service to others.

God, I offer myself to You– to build with me and to do with me as You will. Relieve me of the bondage of self, that I may better do Your will. Take away my difficulties, that victory over them may bear witness to those I would help of Your Power, Your Love, and Your Way of Life. May I do Your will always. (Third Step Prayer of AA)