freed from "a spirit of slavery"
"When Jesus saw her, He called her to Him and said, 'Woman, you are free.' " —Luke 13:12
Naturally, all human beings have a spirit of slavery (Rm 8:15). This spirit drains us of our strength (Lk 13:11) and shackles us in bondage (Lk 13:16). Although most of us human beings begrudgingly admit that we have some compulsive tendencies, we are often in denial about being enslaved. This denial is part of our slavery and makes our slavery an impossible situation. "Who can free" us? (Rm 7:24)
Jesus is the Truth (Jn 14:6), Who sets us free (Jn 8:32). By being baptized into Jesus, we receive a new nature and a spirit of adoption (Rm 8:15). As sons and daughters of God the Father, we are free. We are no longer drained of strength and shackled. We are free in the Holy Spirit (see Rm 8:15-16; Jn 3:8). By living our Baptisms through faith, we shatter "the gates of brass and burst the bars of iron" (Ps 107:16). Only in Christ are we free (see Jn 8:36).
My brothers and sisters, "remember that you have been called to live in freedom" (Gal 5:13). "So stand firm, and do not take on yourselves the yoke of slavery a second time!" (Gal 5:1) Live your Baptisms in Christ, truth, and freedom.
Prayer: Father, send the Holy Spirit to teach me how to free slaves.
Promise: "If we are children, we are heirs as well: heirs of God, heirs with Christ, if only we suffer with Him so as to be glorified with Him." —Rm 8:17
Praise: Jesus set Robert free from a twenty-year drinking problem.
Reference: (To register for the Men's Retreat, Nov. 17, 2001, call 937-587-5464 or 513-471-4622 or e-mail retreats@presentationministries.com)
Nihil Obstat: Reverend Robert A. Stricker, May 8, 2001
Imprimatur: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, May 18, 2001