Probably not. But if you open yourselves up to the readings this weekend, you will greater understand who Jesus is and what he wants to do in your life. I am convinced we live in a time where so many things pull at us constantly. I was just at the hospital visiting someone the other day and was in the elevator with someone working there. I noticed that both of us were on our phones communicating while we were on the go. I said “isn’t this crazy?!” She mentioned something to the extent that it already has made her crazy. So we laughed and went on our way.
As I walked away, I just thought more and more about the many ways we can get shackled in life—the many ways we can fall into addiction and feel very helpless and hopeless in ever getting out. And of course, on our own, we should feel that way. On our own we are hopeless. It’s hard to say this, but it’s true. We need Jesus. Here are a couple quotes to pray with while pondering this….
It is God alone who gives us strength. It is God alone who offers salvation. It is God alone whom we need to rely on and turn to when we are shackled in life. What does Jesus say in the gospel but: “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, tied hand and foot with burial bands, and his face was wrapped in a cloth. So Jesus said to them, “Untie him and let him go.” This is the power of our God. If Jesus can raise a dead man from the grave, he can free you from whatever is enslaving you in life. Turn to him and be saved. Ultimately, Jesus wants us to know this, own this and live this. He wants us to know who he is. From the Prophet Ezekiel: “Then you shall know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves and have you rise from them, O my people!”
Free us, save us and strengthen us Jesus!
Fr. Jeremy
