Freedom

Tuesday, September 5, 2006 -- Week of Proper 17

"Morning Reflections" is a brief thought about the scripture readings from the Daily Office of Morning and Evening Prayer according to the practice found in the Book of Common Prayer of the Episcopal Church.

Morning Prayer begins on p. 80 of the Book of Common Prayer.
Evening Prayer begins on p. 117
An online resource for praying the Daily Office is found at www.missionstclare.com
Another form of the office from Phyllis Tickle's "Divine Hours" is available on our partner web site www.ExploreFaith.org at this location -- http://explorefaith.org/prayer/fixed/index.html


Today's Readings for the Daily Office (p. 983)
Psalm 26, 28 (morning) // 36, 39 (evening)
Job 12:1, 13:3-17, 21-27
Acts 12:1-17
John 8:33-47

Jesus' argument with the religious authorities escalates throughout this section of John's gospel. At this point, there is a dispute over Abraham. "We are descendants of Abraham," say the authorities. "You're not acting like Abraham," says Jesus. At stake is their freedom. If they knew the truth, if they truly followed Abraham, they would be free.

I can imagine a similar conversation today. "We are descendants of Jesus." "You're not acting like Jesus." Freedom is still the stakes.

The Christian gospel, especially in John, asserts that we are one with God. We are one with Christ who is one with God. We are all wrapped up into the very life of the divinity. Our freedom is bound up with our accepting that status.

Nothing need be done. Simply be who you are. You are one with God. That's the message.

Since God loves us so much, can't we love ourselves and our neighbors? That love is a gentle love. It means loving even our weaknesses and failures. Accepting all of it. Then, within that vast acceptance of what is, God will guide and lead us into freedom.

In a way, Peter's story of release from Herod's prison is a wonderful metaphor for the freedom that we hear about from John's gospel. Like Peter, we are also bound and imprisoned by the powers and principalities of our own day. We lie helpless before the symbols of authority, the trappings of power, the control of wealth and so many kinds of aggression. Violence of various kinds threatens us. We live within gates and bars that seem to limit our freedom. We are separated from our community.

Underneath us the church prays fervently to God (v. 5). Peter, bound and guarded, sleeps. Though it seems like a vision or a dream, Peter feels a tap on the side, the chains fall off, he walks out the gate into his freedom.

It's like that for us as well. We are one with God, heirs with Christ of divine life. When we rest into that reality, it is like waking up with the chains off and the bars opened. We really are free. And there was nothing we had to do to earn it. It simply is the way it is. God's gift is our freedom as God's children. Simply be who you are.