CALLED TO BE DISCIPLES OF JESUS

CALLED TO BE DISCIPLES OF JESUS We are ALL slaves To something in this world The word SLAVE means: “One who is subservient or controlled By another; or one who is controlled By a SPECIFIC INFLUENCE” We can be SLAVES to anything: another person-an idea -drugs-alcohol-pornography-consumerism-slaves to Almost anything But I choose God=I choose LOVE LOVE frees us From irrational fears God and Christ Have FREED US from sin “So you are NO LONGER A slave BUT GOD'S CHILD And since you are His child God has made you An HEIR” Galatians 4:7 You are FREE Because of GOD'S LOVE And in the old testament readings We read about Pharaoh And his servants “Pharaoh and his servants exclaimed, 'WHAT have you done' 'Why We have released Israel From our service'” Exodus 14:5 And a few verses later The Israelites complain to Moses “They said to Moses 'Was it because There were no graves In Egypt That you have brought us To the desert to die What have you done To us By bringing us out Of Egypt Didn't we say To you In Egypt Leave us alone Let us SERVE the Egyptians'” Exodus 14:11-12 We have to REMEMBER That with freedom COMES RESPONSIBILITY And the responsibility Of being called To be Jesus' disciples Means We are CALLED to love LOVE GOD And love others “A new command I give you: LOVE ONE ANOTHER As I have Loved you So you MUST love one another By this everyone Will know that you Are my disciples IF YOU LOVE ONE ANOTHER” John 13:34-35 And so DEAR LORD-WE PRAY That you HELP US to acknowledge Those areas of our life WHERE we aren't free To be Who you Lord Are calling us to be Help us to IDENTIFY Those attitudes and behaviors That enslave us And keep us From being more fully YOUR DISCIPLE By LOVING GOD And loving ONE ANOTHER Robert P. Wallman 7-19-15 Ps Inspired by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Sister Melannie Svoboda, S.N.D.