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.
Jesus’ teaching about freedom is radically different from anything we might expect. We think of freedom as something protected from external threats by military forces and local police, and protected from internal threats by adherence to law. Jesus sees only one threat, sin. One who is free enjoys the privileges of children in their parents’ house. Only sin can make household slaves of them.
Someone might ask, “What is sin?” That’s one of the big questions of our time. After Catholics quit speaking absurdly of “mortal sins” as eating meat on Friday and missing Mass on Sunday we found ourselves without a clear understanding of sin and grace. When even more decided that birth control and masturbation can't possibly be mortally fatal, they lost interest in the whole doctrine. Despite the rising tides of abortion, drug abuse and the ritual of murder/suicide it seemed that "mortal sin" had escaped earth's gravity and flown off into outer space.
The Gospel of Saint John describes the grace-filled disciple as one who does not see but believes. In that gospel the Beloved Disciple, known traditionally as John, saw only the empty tomb. That was all he needed to know that Jesus had been raised. Thomas, on the other hand, would not believe until he had seen the Risen Lord -- for which he was rebuked by the Risen Lord.
Sin, then, is not simply flouting rules and laws. It is not believing in the Risen Son of God; it is not believing the Word of God; and it is ignoring the Holy Spirit that directs the heart of the disciple. The obedient servant in her matron's house instinctively watches and waits for direction in whatever form it might come, and acts accordingly. Whether she is told to do something, or interprets a silent clue, she grabs the opportunity to be helpful. Her creativity, energy, skills and willingness stand eager to serve at a moment's notice.
But sin looks for opportunities to escape obedience. It compartmentalizes time into work, play, sleep, eating and so forth; and decides which are “my time” and which are “God’s time.” Eventually, it all becomes “my time” as God seems to recede into a cold, distant heaven. That enervated, useless servant is like salt without savor, good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
"Spirituality," I say to the Veterans in our substance abuse program, "is the development and maintenance of a reason to live." It is a continual awareness of both opportunities and threats. The Christian nurtures her "reason to live;" it is the Spirit of God moving in her, joyful, generous, grateful and willing to live as an obedient child in the House of God.
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I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.