FREE TO OBEY

FREE TO OBEY

 

… our old self was crucified with him, so that… we might no longer be in slavery to sin. – Romans 6:6

 

Grumbler. Disobedient. Proud. These were my workplace traits.

As a young professional striving to move up, I would almost always find a way to complain about what my boss would tell me. I’d question his wisdom, thinking, “I know about computers more than him. I know what I am doing!”

Consequently, running into trouble at work was a normal happening. I didn’t know that when I disobeyed my boss, I was disobeying the Lord.

As I got renewed in the Spirit, I came across the Word in Romans 13:1-2 which says, “Let every person be subordinated to the higher authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been established by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed.”

I repented.

As I strive to obey the Word now, I am blessed. The Lord is prospering my work and blessing all my undertakings (Deuteronomy 28:12).

I am now free to obey my boss! Danny Tariman (danny@dtariman.com)

 

REFLECTION:

“Don’t just do what you have to do to get by, but work heartily, as Christ’s servants doing what God wants you to do. And work with a smile on your face, always keeping in

mind that no matter who happens to be giving the orders, you’re really serving God.” (Ephesians 6:6-7,The Message)

 

Grant me,Lord, the grace to obey the authorities You’ve set above me.

DEATH GIVES WAY TO LIFE

 

I am sure we have all heard the saying that the two sure things in life are death and taxes. I want to talk a little about the first of these, not as the end of life but as the means by which we enter new life, or a new phase of our lives. The resurrection of Jesus that we celebrate at the Easter Vigil is a celebration of life from death. There is no resurrection without first Jesus’ death on the cross, and so to understand the resurrection we must first understand the meaning of His death.

In order to do this, I want to use the part of Romans 6 that speaks to an understanding of the Sacrament of Baptism. It is this Sacrament that links the death of Christ (being buried with Christ in death caused by our sins) to rising with Him to new life in the resurrection. In the early Church, when a catechumen was baptized, they were submerged in water to symbolize death to sin in their lives. They were preferably held under the water for a period of time so that when they eventually emerge they will be gasping for air — thus symbolizing coming into new life.

As we celebrate the Easter Vigil tonight, let us be mindful of the symbols we see: the light of the Easter Fire (dispelling the darkness of sin); the waters of Baptism (giving entry into the Church for new converts) and the words of the Scripture Readings that trace salvation history from the time of Creation down to the life of Jesus. We need to listen carefully and allow these symbols to draw us into the drama that we celebrate tonight. Let us allow our faith to be rekindled by the Spirit of God so that we can better understand and thus live more fully the mystery of our faith. Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL

 

Reflection Question:

Do I really understand the significance of tonight’s liturgy? Have I ever celebrated Easter with a deep and personal faith?

 

Jesus, help me to both understand and better celebrate my faith in You tonight so that I may give witness to the Gospel through the way I live my life.

 

St. Fara, pray for us.