Thursday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time
We continue reflecting on the Christian freedom won for us in Christ. In our gospel today, Jesus continues the “woes” to those in authority and those with influence. What Jesus is highlighting is a critical component to genuine freedom in Jesus; others have it as well.
Liberty, devoid of Christian freedom, begins to encroach on others’ freedoms since what we want to do often runs against what others desire—this is selfishness in a nutshell. To have absolute liberty means someone will have to give up some of theirs; this is unsustainable.
Freedom in Christ overcomes this. The prophets Jesus speaks of today offered their lives for the sake of others on behalf of God. The prophets did not live for their own sake and were willing to sacrifice so that others could enjoy greater freedom. Abel, in like manner, offered the best of what he had to God.
Freedom in Christ is the freedom to do good, and good means to respect and uphold the genuine freedom of others. It means we are willing to sacrifice part of our lives, our best produce, and our best gifts so that those enslaved by sin can receive freedom.
Let us offer our lives as a gift of freedom.
Reflection by Fr. Etienne, OSB
Posted in Articles for Ordinary Time, Daily Reflections