Sixth Day (Feb. 14, 2004): FAITH LIBERATES YOU

" The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed "
(Luke 4:18).
" Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest "
(John 4:39)

Reflections : Experiencing God's love through faith endows us with liberation for all of us living under the slavery of this world. Faith in Jesus Christ liberates us. Liberation means we are set free from every kind of bondages like sin, sickness, poverty, fear and death.

Sin is the rebellious, disobedient nature in us to displace God from our life. Romans 3:16: "Sin separates us from God and keeps us far away from experiencing God's love". The bible says the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all our sins and we are forgiven and made whole.

Faith in Christ Jesus brings complete healing into our lives. We are set free from every kind of diseases and sickness. Liberation is the experience of being set free. And, once we experience this, it is our responsibility to share this good news with others. People are living under various kinds of fears and bondages like alcoholism, drug abuse, poverty and broken families. They are suffering from unbearable pain and mental turmoil and there is no peace in their lives, in the family and their surroundings. The poor and the marginalized have lost hope and are living in despair.

In the midst of all these God has placed us as an agent of healing, to proclaim freedom to the prisoners and to release the oppressed. We are called to be liberators, to become a channel of healing, restoration and peace to the people around us.

Do we feel responsible for those who are still in bondages from which we need to be set free? Let us bring them to the feet of Christ Jesus, who alone can take all our burdens and set us free. It is by the freedom that Christ has set us free. Let us have complete faith in Jesus Christ for the 'Lord is the Spirit, and where the spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom' (2 Cor.3: 17).

Questions for reflections:

1. Have we experienced the true freedom in our lives?

2. Note down some of the bondage's from which we need to be set free?

Prayer of the Faithful

Concluding Prayer