Reflections: 23rd Sunday Ordinary Time

In the Collect for today, we pray for "true freedom" and an "everlasting inheritance."

In our modern culture, especially here in America, we have a faulty, and ultimately dangerous, definition of freedom. The modern idea of freedom, formalized during the "Enlightenment," is the mere absence of restraint in order to pursue whatever pleasures we want so long as we don't interfere with others' ability to do the same.

Even we, as Catholics, can fall into the trap of being influenced by it. We tell ourselves that we have no business telling other people what to do, how to live their lives, or what to believe. We think that non-interference and toleration lead to peace. Yet this is a false peace and not really loving.

The reading from the book of Wisdom tells us that our deliberations are timid and our plans unsure. Wounded by original sin, we are unable to gain true wisdom and see clearly on our own. The only way we gain wisdom and the ability to see clearly is for God to give it to us by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

In the reading from the letter to Philemon, St. Paul shows us that true freedom does not depend on our legal or social status. When we accept the love of God, when we ask Him to teach us His laws and to give us the strength to follow them, we are truly free. When we take up our cross, we are free in this life and will gain eternal glory which is our inheritance.

Our freedom comes from Christ; it comes from following the laws of the Gospel, the foundation of which is love of God and neighbor. Following our own plans, giving in to our own passions, leads to slavery and misery.

Jesus tells us that even when our intentions and plans are good, if we don't sit down and count the cost we will ultimately subject ourselves to the mockery of others when we are unable to complete the task we have undertaken. He also tells us that a hindrance to following him is inordinate attachment to the things of this world.

Before any good work, we must pray to God for His wisdom and guidance. We must ask Him to bring our work to completion because without His grace we will fail. More often than not, His guidance comes through helping us to find others with more experience so that we can ask them for their knowledge and expertise and any other assistance that we may need.

So no matter where we are in our lives, whatever our particular vocations, let us pray to God for wisdom, to bring our good works to completion, and for the detachment necessary to take up our crosses and follow Christ.

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