Freedom

"They promise freedom when they themselves are slaves of corruption: for anyone is a slave of what dominates him." - 2nd Peter 2:19

When Pope Benedict XVI met with President Bush at the White House, he spoke about the responsibility of freedom, which reminded me of Peter's, the first pope, words in his letter to the early Christians. Pope Benedict said that freedom is something that has to be renewed with each generation and I see ours as having a long way to go to attain it. In this verse above, Peter says that anyone is a slave of what dominates him, and under the disguise of freedom, we are trapped. How many people do we know are constantly getting drunk, getting high, and engaging in casual sex? At the moment, they're doing what they want, living their lives, they're "free." But what happens the next day when the same lonliness creeps in? They go back to the alcohol, drugs, and fake intimacy that enslaves them. They seek and try to find something that fills them, but corruption and sin only bury you deeper into the hole.

The theme of Pope Benedict's visit is "Christ Our Hope" and we all, even if we're just teenagers, young adults, or older, need to invigorate our faith. Christ is our hope. He came to give us true freedom, freedom that liberates us from the vices that make us think we're fulfilled when we're not. Christ is our only hope, our true freedom, and it is only in Him that we find not only life, but an abundant life. Unless you're living like this, you're not living at all. If you're going to be a slave to anything or anyone, be a slave to the abundant life of Christ Jesus!

Today's Prayer:
Lord Jesus, You are my hope. You free me of my worries, my fears, my anxiety and by following You, You have come to show me how fulfilling it is to walk with You. You have given me true life and freedom. Blessed be Your Name my Lord!