Today, tomorrow and the day after

Oasis

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ou need courage at times to face opposition. You would easily have courage if you have conviction about anything. But if you are not certain and in doubt then you would not be courageous and would give in easily to any pressure that is brought to bear upon you.

We have an example in the Gospel about how Jesus faced the pressure from the Pharisees who wished to get rid of Jesus from a certain place.

They told him that King Herod was trying to kill him. So they suggested that he should save himself. He said to them, "Go and tell that fox for me, 'Listen, I am casting out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I finish my work.

So, Jesus refuses to be pressurized.

Are you under some compulsions? Should you be under them? Should you not be free of them and remain as someone destined to live freely with the freedom of the children of God? Is such a freedom available to anyone who seeks for it? The letters of St Paul constantly mentions this. Perhaps one example would suffice. Writing to the Romans he says: "but thanks be to God that you, having once been slaves of sin, have become obedient from the heart to the form of teaching to which you were entrusted, and that you, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.”  God calls us to be free and happy as individuals who have been freed by his kindness and mercy.

Why should we carry burdens in our lives unnecessarily? The guilt consciousness of what we have done sometimes makes us act in a way that is not proper. The lord invites us to come to him in confidence confess our faults and obtain pardon.

Freed then from all such oppressions we could act boldly in our lives. There are also times when we are led into wrong paths unwarily. We find we have gone too far and find it impossible to retrace our steps. But is it really impossible? Turn to the lord in humble prayer and he will show you the way how you could turn away and find peace and joy  again. There are also moments when human respect prevents us from taking a firm course of action. We do not like to offend this one or that. We prefer to wallow because we are helpless . Again I should look to the lord for assistance and surrender to him declaring my helplessness and you can be sure that he will lift me up from the mire and show me the path that could lead me out. Let me be assured that God wants me to be happy.  Jesus invites all who are burdened in life to come to him and find rest for themselves: "Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest"