Deacon Tom Writes,
“A Proper Frame of Mind”
We
live in a frenzied world. We have so much technology at our fingertips and we
are more connected to the entire world then ever before. The world is literally
just a click away, as images from the corner and around the world flood into
our living rooms from the cell phones of people who witness history in the
making. We are virtually eyewitnesses to history in the making because
technology has placed us in the midst of such events as the crises in Syria or
the foiled coup in Turkey. We are reminded that people want freedom. They are
putting their lives on the line to overthrow the repressive regimes that have
suppressed them for many years. A new day is dawning…. Hopefully, a better day
awaits many people living without basic freedoms.
Today’s
gospel reminds us that the ultimate power of freedom is the power to make ones
own decision in life. We all make choices on how to use the precious gift of
freedom that we possess. Jesus gives us some practical advice on how to make
the right decisions in regard to the important matters in our lives. “No one can serve two masters,” he tells
us. Why? For the simple reason that our inherent makeup will not allow us
pursue two opposing desires over the long term. Our love, our passion, our
desires cannot be divided. We need to choose one or the other; we need to
decide if we are going to serve God or everything else that competes with God.
The
gift of freedom that we have received from the hand of God helps give us a proper frame of mind, a moral compass so
that we can choose wisely. This proper
frame of mind helps us get our priorities in order so that we freely choose
to put God first in our lives and by so doing we are then able to enjoy the
things of this world as he intended us to use them… for our well-being and the
well-being of others.
Many
of the images being broadcast instantly around the world, images of poverty,
these current revolutions, so many other dreadful human conditions, are visible
signs that we have abused the gift of freedom that God has given us. These
images can leave us with a sense that we have all but forgotten God. And,
perhaps there is much truth to that. Our faith, on the other hand, and the
passage from the Prophet Isaiah serve to remind us of the eternal truth that God
has
not forgotten us, and he never will.
Enjoy
the day!
Deacon
Tom
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