The True Freedom

 Reflection on Today's Readings, Friday of 15th Week in Ordinary Time, Year 1, July 16th, 2021
Texts: Ex. 11:10-12:14; Ps. 116: 12-13.15-18; Mtt.12:1-8
The true freedom is the freedom from sin and it is found in Jesus Christ. In today's gospel reading, He says, "have you not read in the law how on the sabbath the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are guiltless? I tell you, something greater than, the temple is here." By this word it means we are not under the burden of the law by following Him. Jesus Christ is greater than the temple which makes the priest guiltless inspite of breaking the law. In Jesus Christ we have the greatest freedom. In following Jesus Christ we receive mercy and taught to be merciful. St. James says, _"For judgment will be without mercy to anyone who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment"_ (2:13). In today's gospel reading, Jesus says, _"And if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless."_ In following Jesus Christ we live by mercy. It is in mercy that we are free from the burden of law and becomes guiltless. Law itself is oriented towards mercy. The love which fulfills law becomes real in mercy. Where mercy prevails, law is of no importance.
Today's first reading also speaks of the freedom of the Hebrews from the slavery in Egypt. On the night that they were to be free from the slavery, God instructed each household to sacrifice a lamb for meal and its blood smeared on the two doorposts and lintel of their house. God says, _"The blood shall be a sign for you, upon the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague shall fall upon you to destroy you, when I strike the land of Egypt."_
Jesus Christ is the lamb of God by whose blood we are redeemed and save from the slavery to sin. Slavery to sin is the worst slavery in life. Slavery to sin unleashes pains on people near and far. When one is enslaved to sin, the people around him share from the consequence of the sin. A murderer does not kill himself but others; thief does not steal from himself but others. This is evident in our nation, everyone is sharing from the effects of slavery to sin of some people. We are sharing from  the effects of some people who are enslaved to corruption and bribery, some people who are enslaved to banditry, some people who are enslaved to kidnapping, some people who are enslaved to armed robbery, etc. The insecurity and bad governance are the effects of slavery to sin.
The freedom we have in following Jesus Christ is freedom from sin. We have in Him the greatest freedom. This is because it is the freedom from the worst slavery. By the blood of Jesus Christ our sins are washed away,   the record of our sins wiped off. Being saved from slavery to sin, we are saved from destruction and triumphed over judgment.
The eating of the lamb is fulfilled in Jesus Christ giving us His body for food and blood for drink at the last supper. This continues in the Holy Communion. Our reception of Holy Communion is to set us free from slavery to sin. When we receive the Holy Communion, we are strengthened against sins. However, it is possible to waste the grace when we are not ready to leave sin. Our readiness to leave sin is also required. Hence, God told the Hebrews, "In this manner you shall eat it: your loins girded, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and you shall eat it in haste." They were to eat the passover meal in readiness to leave Egypt, the place of slavery. When we receive Holy Communion, we are to do so with resolution to leave sin and to embrace the life of holiness.
Jesus Christ obtains mercy for us through the shedding of His blood for us. Having been saved by mercy, we too are to show mercy. By showing mercy, we triumph over judgment.

Lord Jesus Christ, we thank You for the mercy received from You, grant that we may not fail to show mercy. Amen.

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke