The Lies We Tell Ourselves and Finding Freedom
“I mess everything up”, “I could never love again”, “God is too busy to worry about me”, “I have to prove myself to be worthy”… Ever found yourself thinking these kinds of things in your life? By our experiences, we all tell ourselves a story of what we believe, but sometimes we lie to ourselves to cope with hurt, loss and struggle. Sometimes we hold anger or unforgiveness in our hearts towards others or ourselves. Whatever the case, these things can often have tremendous hold over our lives and keep us from true freedom in Christ, and even from relationships with others. In this Sunday’s homily (shown above, just click the “play” button), I talk about how the Lord can help us to break free from these bonds that hold us back. For a more in depth examination on praying for freedom in our lives, and for the source for much of my material, take a look at the book “Unbound” by Neal Lozano.
Below are the readings for this Sunday.
Readings for the 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time
First Reading: Numbers 11:25-29
Then the LORD came down in the cloud and spoke to him, and took some of the spirit that was upon him and put it upon the seventy elders; and when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied. But they did so no more. Now two men remained in the camp, one named Eldad, and the other named Medad, and the spirit rested upon them; they were among those registered, but they had not gone out to the tent, and so they prophesied in the camp. And a young man ran and told Moses, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.” And Joshua the son of Nun, the minister of Moses, one of his chosen men, said, “My lord Moses, forbid them.” But Moses said to him, “Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the LORD’s people were prophets, that the LORD would put his spirit upon them!”
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 19:8, 10, 12-14
The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple;the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever; the ordinances of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether.Moreover by them is thy servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.But who can discern his errors? Clear thou me from hidden faults.Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression.
Second Reading: James 5:1-6
Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you. Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver have rusted, and their rust will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure for the last days. Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. You have lived on the earth in luxury and in pleasure; you have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. You have condemned, you have killed the righteous man; he does not resist you.
Gospel: Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48
John said to him, “Teacher, we saw a man casting out demons in your name, and we forbade him, because he was not following us.” But Jesus said, “Do not forbid him; for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon after to speak evil of me. For he that is not against us is for us. For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ, will by no means lose his reward. “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung round his neck and he were thrown into the sea. And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.
