Day 36: The truth can set you free
21 March, Day 36: John 8: 21-30
Nobody wants to be reminded about the presence of sin in their lives.
It is more pervasive than we want to acknowledge or admit. But, wanting to be aware of it is far away from our thoughts. How many of us take the time to actively reflect and examine ourselves and our lives everyday - our thoughts, acts and behaviour?
Nobody has the time or mindspace to spend on this kind of thing. Why face all these uncomfortable truths about ourselves? What is the purpose? It's quite uncomfortable to pay attention to and dwell on our weaknesses, so why even go there? Isn't life hard as it already is, without the need for all this self-imposed prodding and introspection.
In fact, most of us are quite comfortable with the fact that we live pretty decent lives. We tend to follow the rules. We help people when we can and when it's convenient to us. We don't treat others very unkindly. Most of us are not inclined to, steal, kill or do something extreme. We're mostly pretty vanilla.
It's the small things, the 'easily justifiable' things, that we're sort of blind to, no?
That random instance of roadrage. The snappy responses to our kids/spouse after a hard day's work. The 10 hours of binge-watch on Netflix. Everyday happenings of laziness/procrastination. Failing to help out at home/office/school when you easily could have. Finishing off a few bars of chocolate in one go. (I'm no saint either).
Today's verse is from John 8: 21-3
Jesus answered, “I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin. A slave does not remain in a household forever, but a son always remains. So if the Son frees you, then you will truly be free.”
Thoughts: Well, there's no two ways about it.
He's pretty clear when he says you become a slave of the very sin you so easily and effortless indulge in. It feels pretty good and normal in the moment, but it tarnishes your soul in long run, without you even realizing it. If only you knew, had an awareness of how bad it is for you... than you'd probably stop doing it.
But how do you stop? It can't be easy. After all, we're so used to and familiar with our habits, our behaviour and the ways of the world. But this is the difference between human and being divine. We are called to move away from one to the other.
Who doesn't want greatness and freedom combined? If you really want to be a good person, letting go of sin is the hefty (in terms of effort) price you pay from moving away from base human indulgences and becoming something greater. It takes a huge amount of self-sacrifice, and commitment and a true dying to the self.
The Gospel says this is what eternal freedom is all about.
Takeway: There is a need to be brutal with sin in our lives.
Nobody wants to be reminded about the presence of sin in their lives.
It is more pervasive than we want to acknowledge or admit. But, wanting to be aware of it is far away from our thoughts. How many of us take the time to actively reflect and examine ourselves and our lives everyday - our thoughts, acts and behaviour?
Nobody has the time or mindspace to spend on this kind of thing. Why face all these uncomfortable truths about ourselves? What is the purpose? It's quite uncomfortable to pay attention to and dwell on our weaknesses, so why even go there? Isn't life hard as it already is, without the need for all this self-imposed prodding and introspection.
It's the small things, the 'easily justifiable' things, that we're sort of blind to, no?
That random instance of roadrage. The snappy responses to our kids/spouse after a hard day's work. The 10 hours of binge-watch on Netflix. Everyday happenings of laziness/procrastination. Failing to help out at home/office/school when you easily could have. Finishing off a few bars of chocolate in one go. (I'm no saint either).
Today's verse is from John 8: 21-3
Jesus answered, “I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin. A slave does not remain in a household forever, but a son always remains. So if the Son frees you, then you will truly be free.”
Thoughts: Well, there's no two ways about it.
He's pretty clear when he says you become a slave of the very sin you so easily and effortless indulge in. It feels pretty good and normal in the moment, but it tarnishes your soul in long run, without you even realizing it. If only you knew, had an awareness of how bad it is for you... than you'd probably stop doing it.
But how do you stop? It can't be easy. After all, we're so used to and familiar with our habits, our behaviour and the ways of the world. But this is the difference between human and being divine. We are called to move away from one to the other.
Who doesn't want greatness and freedom combined? If you really want to be a good person, letting go of sin is the hefty (in terms of effort) price you pay from moving away from base human indulgences and becoming something greater. It takes a huge amount of self-sacrifice, and commitment and a true dying to the self.
The Gospel says this is what eternal freedom is all about.
Takeway: There is a need to be brutal with sin in our lives.
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