FREE AND DELIVERED

The way of freedom is God’s design for us. The way of freedom is to be so associated with God that we know first, and always, of His presence. He is our Father, our loving Father. As Thomas Merton once wrote, “As long as you pretend to live in pure autonomy, as your own master, without even a god to rule you, you will inevitably live as a servant of another man or as an alienated member of an organization. Paradoxically it is the acceptance of God that makes you free and delivers you from human tyranny, for when you serve Him you are no longer permitted to alienate your spirit in human servitude. God did not invite the Children of Israel to leave the slavery of Egypt: He commanded them to do so.” (From ‘New Seeds of Contemplation’)

Paul, an apostle, wrote to the Galatians, “For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.”

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free.” Jesus