28th Week in OT 2020 - Tuesday - Freedom from the slavery of sin and addiction

 

A few years ago, the Pontifical Academy of Sciences hosted a conference at the Vatican called “Narcotics: Problems and Solutions of this Global Issue”. For, if you remember, it was just a few years ago that we were experiencing what we were calling the Opioid Epidemic. Our part of the country was particularly impacted by a rise in deaths stemming from opioid use and addictions. Our Bishop Malesic wrote a pastoral letter to his former diocese, too on the subject.

Anyway, at this Vatican conference, the Holy Father described drug addiction as a “new form of slavery”, comparing addiction to slavery—noting how addiction, like slavery, can fiercely control a person’s life. The drug becomes a set of shackles, resulting in the loss of freedom to pursue what is good in life.

This sort of language is certainly reminiscent of St. Paul in his letter to the Galatians this morning. Paul speaks of the yoke of slavery to which the Galatians were falling back into. Christ had freed them, broken the chains, but the Galatians were putting the shackles back on their own wrists. 

For the Galatians this yoke of slavery was the belief that salvation came through the law—all they had to do to be was be circumcised and follow the old Jewish law and they could go to heaven. But Paul is saying, no, that’s not right: “neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything”, rather you need to have faith in Jesus Christ, and practice it. “Only faith working through love” matters.

These Galatians were guilty of exactly the same attitude the Lord condemns in the Gospel today in the house of the Pharisee. The Pharisee believed that the law was the path to righteousness. But the Lord explains that the law cannot bring internal purification, it cannot bring true freedom. Rather freedom comes through belief in him, discipleship of him, following him.

The yoke of slavery can come in many forms—when we choose something, some pursuit over Christ, we are falling back under the yoke of sin. It can be drugs, alcohol, pornography, shopping, video games, social media. For these things can consume so much time, energy, they keep us from pursuing the good things God wants for us. Or even this belief that we can find ultimate fulfillment and salvation outside of Christ, separate from God, through merely political, scientific, or secular means. 

But each of needs to identify personally what attitudes, pursuits, habits of body and mind, ideologies, keep us from the prayer and charitable works that constitute that “faith working through love” that Paul says is the only thing that matters. What keeps us from practicing our faith in saintly and heroic ways?

May the Holy Spirit help us to identify any shackles that keep us from that active faith and act love of Christ for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

 

That the ordained and lay faithful may give courageous witness through lives of active faith and virtue.

For all those chained by the slavery of addiction, that they may know the deliverance and liberation that can only come through Christ. 

That world leaders may look upon the Son of God, believe in him, and seek the peace and justice that only he can bring.

That our young people may take seriously the call to holiness, and turn away from the evils of our culture to spread the good news of Christ’s eternal kingdom.

For all whose lives are marked by suffering may come to know the healing and peace of Christ.

For the deceased members of our families, friends, and parish, and all the poor souls in purgatory, for deceased clergy and religious, and for those who have fought and died for our freedom.

 O God, you know that our life in this present age is subject to suffering and need, hear the prayers of those who cry to you and receive the prayers of those who believe in you. Through Christ our Lord.