"There is no chaining the word of God!" (2 Tm 2:9) If we abide in God's word (Jn 8:31, our transl), there's no chaining us either. God demonstrated this by calling Paul to take the gospel to the world by taking it to Rome, the center of the Western world (Acts 23:11). Yet Paul was in prison. The Lord inspired Paul to request that his case be transferred to Rome (Acts 25:21). However, Paul had to survive a hurricane (Acts 27:14), a shipwreck (Acts 27:26), and the venom of a deadly snake before he could get to Rome (Acts 28:3-6). There he was allowed to be put under house arrest, where "with full assurance, and without any hindrance whatever, he preached the reign of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ" (Acts 28:31). There is no chaining those who proclaim God's word, although there are repeated, formidable attempts to chain them.

When we receive the Holy Spirit anew this Pentecost, we will be unchained. We will bolt out of the upper room of fear (see Jn 20:19). We will "move about at large" (Ps 31:9) and be set free "in the open" (Ps 18:20; 2 Sm 22:20). Are you tired of being tamed and chained? Do you want to be off the devil's leash? Come, Holy Spirit!

Rescript:  †Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, February 1, 2011

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