Acts 15:22-31, Psalm 57:8-10, 12, John 15:12-17
Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/nab/050710.shtml
VOLUNTARY SLAVERY
"I no longer speak of you as slaves." —John 15:15
Jesus calls us, His disciples, "slaves." Later, He may call us "friends."
To be a friend of Jesus, we must first be His slave. To know what Jesus is
doing, we must first obey without knowing what He is doing (Jn 15:15). To
be aware of Jesus as Love (1 Jn 4:16), we must first know Him as Lord.
God's word commands us to "be slaves of Christ the Lord" (Col 3:24).
However, the idea of being anyone's slave is disturbing to us. We want to
keep our independence. However, there is no such thing as our
independence. This is a self-deception. "You must realize that, when you
offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are the slaves of the
one you obey, whether yours is the slavery of sin, which leads to death,
or of obedience, which leads to justice" (Rm 6:16). We are automatically
slaves to someone or something. The only question is: "Whose slave will we
be?"
To be the slave of Jesus means to no longer have a life of our own (see
Gal 2:20), to let ourselves be consumed by the living God (see Heb 12:29).
To be a slave of Jesus is a privilege and the highest honor a human being
can attain. Jesus "emptied Himself and took the form of a slave" for love
of us (Phil 2:7). Will you empty yourself and be His slave for love of
Him?
Prayer: Jesus, I am created to be Your slave. I will only be freed and
fulfilled as Your slave. I choose You as Lord. I choose to be Your slave.
Promise: "It is the decision of the Holy Spirit, and ours too, not to lay
on you any burden beyond that which is strictly necessary." —Acts 15:28
Praise: David once was a slave to drugs, but Jesus set him free. Now he
lives for Jesus.
(For a related teaching, order our tape "Developing A Deep, Personal
Relationship with Jesus" on audio AV 52-1 or video V-52.)
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Rescript: In accord with the "Code of Canon Law", I hereby grant my
permission to publish "One Bread, One Body" covering the period from April
1, 2010 through May 31, 2010
†Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of
Cincinnati, October 9, 2009
The rescript is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be
free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have
granted ecclesial permission agree with the contents, opinions, or
statements expressed.
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