Wednesday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time
St. Paul continues his instruction on what it means to be free in Christ Jesus. Freedom in Christ is freedom from the slavery of sin, which blinds us from doing good in all circumstances. Today, St. Paul helps us recognize the works of sin so as not to be enslaved by them, and he also allows us realize what true freedom looks like.
The trick is how to approach life to see if you are living in freedom or not. The Church calls this process an examination of conscience. The examination is often used before going to confession, asking what I have done against God’s laws. However, the examination can also be used daily to recognize our faults and where God is working in our lives.
How do we do this? St. Ignatius of Loyola is a great saint who teaches how to do this. Here are a few of his steps to help guide you:
- Sit quietly for a moment and become aware of God’s presence through the events of the day.
- Review the day with gratitude, thanking God.
- Pay attention to your emotions; what are they telling you? What is God telling you through them; how are they telling you where you fell short?
- Choose a moment from the day—good or bad—and pray from it.
- Look toward tomorrow and ask for insight on handling the next day’s challenges.
I encourage you to reflect on the freedom you enjoy in Christ and where we must strive for greater freedom. But above all things, give thanks for the freedom Christ has won for you.
Reflection by Fr. Etienne Huard, OSB
Posted in Articles for Ordinary Time, Daily Reflections