Monday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time
Reading 1: Galatians 4:22-24, 26-27, 31–5:1
Brothers and sisters:
It is written that Abraham had two sons,
one by the slave woman and the other by the freeborn woman.
The son of the slave woman was born naturally,
the son of the freeborn through a promise.
Now this is an allegory.
These women represent two covenants.
One was from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery;
this is Hagar.
But the Jerusalem above is freeborn, and she is our mother.
For it is written:
Rejoice, you barren one who bore no children;
break forth and shout, you who were not in labor;
for more numerous are the children of the deserted one
than of her who has a husband.
Therefore, brothers and sisters,
we are children not of the slave woman
but of the freeborn woman.
For freedom Christ set us free; so stand firm
and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 113:1b-2, 3-4, 5a, 6-7
R. (see 2) Blessed be the name of the Lord forever.
Praise, you servants of the LORD,
praise the name of the LORD.
Blessed be the name of the LORD
both now and forever.
R. Blessed be the name of the Lord forever.
.
Alleluia: Psalm 95:8
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
If today you hear his voice,
harden not your hearts.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel: Luke 11:29-32
While still more people gathered in the crowd, Jesus said to them,
“This generation is an evil generation;
it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it,
except the sign of Jonah.
Just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites,
so will the Son of Man be to this generation.
At the judgment
the queen of the south will rise with the men of this generation
and she will condemn them,
because she came from the ends of the earth
to hear the wisdom of Solomon,
and there is something greater than Solomon here.
At the judgment the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation
and condemn it,
because at the preaching of Jonah they repented,
and there is something greater than Jonah here.”
Meditation
Beloved brothers and sisters in Christ, a new day has dawned, and we are blessed to be alive to experience it. Let us give thanks to God for the gift of life and for all that He accomplishes in us each day.
The first reading that the Church offers us for today’s meditation challenges us to reflect on who we truly are and how we ought to live. Before Christ, we were slaves to sin. But through the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, we have become free men and women. Yet, are we truly aware of this freedom? Have we experienced what it means to live as children of God?
The freedom that the Lord offers us is unique. Once we have experienced it, we must be careful not to fall back under the yoke of slavery, as Saint Paul warns us. Indeed, this freedom changes the way we see things. Even when life does not go as planned and we face difficult moments, we remain confident. We enjoy a peace and tranquillity that enable us to keep moving forward despite our struggles, because we know that Christ is with us. We can feel His presence. However, when we are enslaved by sin, even the slightest difficulty frightens us and sends us running in every direction, searching desperately for a way out.
Beloved, true freedom is found in Jesus Christ alone. He alone gave His life for us. We need only to believe in Him to receive this freedom. But to believe also means to obey. Whenever we act contrary to Christ’s teachings, we begin to lose the freedom that belongs to us as children of God. We need only to remember the sadness and shame that often overwhelm us after we have sinned to understand this truth. Sometimes, these feelings can even lead us into depression, pushing us further into the very sin from which we long to escape. Sin chains us and robs us of the joy of living. The enemy of our freedom is sin.
To believe also means to love. There is no true faith without charity. When we do good to someone, lift up a discouraged brother or sister, or give food to someone who is hungry, we experience a profound joy within us. In those moments, we feel that our lives have meaning and that we truly matter. Indeed, love makes us even freer. For when we love, we move beyond ourselves, break the chains of selfishness, and discover the joy of living for others. The more we allow Christ’s love to work through us, the more we experience the freedom of God’s children.
Dear brothers and sisters, let us never forget that Jesus did not set us free so that we could return to slavery. He calls us to live in the freedom of His grace, to remain faithful to His Word, and to let love guide our thoughts, our words, and our actions. May we have the courage to turn away from sin and the humility to return to God whenever we fall. May our faith be expressed through obedience, our freedom through love, and our lives through the joy of serving others.
Let Us Pray
God our Father, forgive us for all the times we have allowed ourselves to be dominated by sin. Grant us the grace of conversion so that we may live in the freedom You offer us through Jesus Christ. Help us to break free from everything that separates us from Your love, and teach us to walk faithfully in Your ways. May our hearts be filled with Your peace, and may our lives become a reflection of Your love. Amen.
Intercession
Lord Jesus, look with compassion upon all those who are trapped in the vicious cycle of sin and struggle to rise again. Reveal to them Your merciful face, so that they may find the strength to stand up, return to You, and rediscover the freedom and joy that come from Your love.
Mother Mary, pray for us.
Spiritual Exercise
Examine your conscience today and reflect on the attitudes and behaviours that still keep you from experiencing the freedom you have received in Jesus Christ. Make a sincere decision to change what needs to be changed, and take concrete steps to overcome these obstacles with God’s grace.
Praise be to Jesus Christ, now and forever!
Minette MIAFO, (Community of the Living Disciples of Christ)
