Daily reflection _ freedom, a precious gift

FREEDOM, A PRECIOUS GIFT
God draws us to Himself and we try at times to pull in the opposite direction. Jesus, by His redemption, has given us the grace to be free from sin.  
Deacon John Ruscheinsky
As Americans, we are blessed to be a free people. Freedom is so precious that the founders of this country were willing to sacrifice everything in order to achieve it. This nation's struggle for freedom is so fundamental to human dignity that every person passes through stages, often painful and confusing, in their growth into a free person.
Freedom is not the right to do anything we please. Rather, it is the context in which we have the ability to do what God pleases. Confusion about freedom leads to slavery, as St. Paul warns us, today. Indulging in our weak aspects, giving in to temptation, refusing to accept a discipline based on moral principles, we becomes addicted to things that separate us from God and those we love. Sin becomes something of a compulsion, whether it is a matter of never resisting gossip or becoming trapped by an unfaithful marital relationship. Whatever the case may be, God's will recedes from consciousness and becomes a blur.
Has God's will become a blur to you at times? I believe we as Christians truly know that we are a blessed and free people by knowing the treasure we have received in Jesus. As we hear in the Gospels, Jesus loved to tell stories, many of which ended with a dramatic and unexpected change of circumstances. Can you imagine a thief calling ahead to tell their victim when they would strike?  Should we be surprised to see a thief taking off with a great treasure left unguarded? What does this say about the treasure that God has entrusted to you and me?
When God offers us His Kingdom, He gives us a treasure beyond measure; the pearl of great price that we hear in Matthew's Gospel. What is this treasure of immeasurable value? Jesus Himself is our treasure as well as the Kingdom He offers. The Lord offers us a relationship and the promise of eternal life. The treasure is of far greater value than any earthly treasure and more secure of our total freedom in God.
This parable also contains a lesson in faithfulness. Jesus loves faithfulness and richly rewards those who are faithful; to keep one's word, promise, and commitments no matter how tough or difficult it gets. Faithfulness is a key character trait of God and one that He expects of us. In our relationship with God, if we turn away from our bad habits and temptations He will gives us the grace we need to guide us through this part of our journey that we struggle with.
In the Responsorial Psalm we acclaim, "Our help is in the name of the Lord" (Ps 124:8a). Sin produces tension. Sometimes we don't know where we are going or what we want to do; it is in our own being that we feel the roots of helplessness that can lead us to despair. But, we always know that we can go to our heavenly Father in prayer, for He can take away our darkness and bring us to His wonderful light. "We were rescued like a bird from the fowlers' snare; Broken was the snare, and we were freed. Our help is in the name of Lord, who made heaven and earth" (Ps 124:7-8).
God draws us to Himself and we try at times to pull in the opposite direction. Jesus, by His redemption, has given us the grace to be free from sin. We are strengthened by the Word and the Eucharist. With such dedication there is peace, serenity and calm in our lives; the joy of true freedom!