Fortnight For Freedom - Diocese of Springfield in Illinois

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the word of the angel, his punishment is removed and he speaks, praising God (and there is nolonger any trace of cynicism nor anger from his punishment in him).• John the Baptist surely learned the lessons of humility from his father, of gratitude and trustfrom his mother, and from both of them of the importance of witnessing to the truth despiteopposition from others, even relative and friends.Tuesday, June 25, 2013Tuesday, 12th Week in Ordinary Time• Lot chooses what he considers the best, even if it means surrounding himself with evil (thoughhe himself does not commit the evil). Abraham chooses what is considered less than the best, yetthe first thing he does is build an altar to God. In the end, Abraham is blessed and Lot loseseverything. What are we willing to compromise to get what we think we want or need?• The Psalm proclaims that the one who does justice in all its forms walks and lives in thepresence of God. That presence is worth more than all the treasures this world could offer.• The “narrow gate” is the way of the cross, which comes to us continually, though invarious guises. Working for religious liberty will lead us to the cross, perhaps whenneighbors or co-workers ridicule us because of the Church we belong to or even for moreserious reasons. And we must be careful not to respond with ridicule or anger, but with love anda desire for the greater truth, otherwise the pearl that is our faith could be trampled upon.Wednesday, June 26, 2013Wednesday, 12th Week in Ordinary Time• The blessing of God (and true religious freedom) comes precisely from committing oneself,binding oneself to God and Truth, just as Abraham did in the covenant making of today. Suchtotal commitment brings identity, purpose and freedom from the fickle winds of human appetite.• The Psalmist proclaims that God never forgets his covenant with us. It is good to be remindedthat God’s fidelity can always be counted on.• Jesus calls us to a real discernment of listening and testing the moral and political ideas that arecontinually thrown at us. We need not lead lives of continual suspicion, but we should listenclosely and test the fruits of unproven theories.• True freedom leaves us free to discern the right as God grants us to see the right and tofollow it. Our freedom cannot coerce hearts to the truth, but it can enable their conversionthrough our fidelity to that truth. To be free, we must remain true.Thursday, June 27, 2012Thursday, 12 th Week in Ordinary Time; Optional Memorial of St. Cyril of Alexandria, bishop, doctor• It seems that Abram and Sarai are impatient with God in his promises to them of an heir; andyet, the Lord uses even their impatience to bring about a blessing for Hagar with her futurenumerous descendants. We need to be patient in letting the work of God come to fruition, even ifit should mean submitting to abuse for a time as Hagar did. Also, we are never too old to beuseful to God as the 86 year old Abram proves in this reading.• Jesus reserves severe condemnation for those who would pay him lip service, and then do
the opposite in their actions. There is need of a careful discernment of truth. Many of thosecondemned thought they were acting for God. Fidelity, truth and charity are inseparable.to the entirety of our identity as Christian, even should it lead to persecution.• Christ himself is the rock on which we build and to which we cling. We can trust thehouse of the Church founded on him to stand strong in the midst of contrary teachingsthat may blow in a secular culture.Friday, June 28, 2013Memorial of St. Irenaeus, bishop and martyr (readings from the current weekday)• If Abraham is obstinate in wondering whether Sarah will ever give birth, the Lord is even morepersistent in calling him to faith and to standing by his promises. Nevertheless, Abraham andSarah did have to wait a long time! But the Lord did prove faithful and he will prove so to us aswell.• The Psalmist speaks of the Fear of the Lord—this is not the reaction we all experience todanger. Rather, this is a virtue to be taught. It is a reverence and respect for the one greater thanus, especially in those moments when we do not understand his action or seeming inaction.• Jesus not only restores the leper to physical wholeness, he also restores him to social andreligious wholeness. He is no longer forced to worship God on the margins of society, but can goto the Temple like everyone else. Religious freedom is a call for a similar wholeness, seekingthe right for every aspect of religion to be accepted as such.• St. Irenaeus gave his life defending the fullness of the Christian faith (his greatest work is“Against Heresies”). As a bishop, he understood that he held a particular charism andresponsibility to witness to the fullness of truth.Saturday, June 29, 2013Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles• Regardless of whether the prayer of the Church provoked the angel to be sent to Peter, the faithof the Church does hold that the Lord hears our prayers and responds in accord with his will.What is perhaps more important than the angel being sent (because it could be well argued thatthe Lord continually sends his messengers of grace to each of us), rather is that Peter wasdisposed to receive and respond to the messenger. Here is the greater challenge, and the Psalmalludes to it saying that “The angel of the Lord will rescue those who fear the Lord.”• Paul is “being poured out,” “competing well,” “finishing the race,” “keeping the faith,” and“longing for the Lord’s appearance.” In all of these, Paul is striving, and the Lord alone isachieving. We must do all that we can in our longing for the Lord, while turning over anyaccomplishments completely to the Lord.• Peter’s profession of faith comes not from “flesh and blood” but from Jesus’ own “heavenlyFather.” Our faith is not dependent on human opinion, but on God. There is still need to usehuman reason to make the important decisions in our world, but the faith which purifies thatreason is divine. We need both.• Our action for religious liberty begins with freeing ourselves from sin and falsehood, but itmust continue with proclaiming that freedom, won by Christ, to the rest of the world.
Page 10 and 11: Monday, July 1, 2013Monday, 13th We
Page 22 and 23: Litany for LibertyFor use during th
Page 24 and 25: Letanía por la LibertadPara uso du
Page 26 and 27: Religious FreedomEcumenical Prayer
Page 28 and 29: I mean that as long as the heir is
Page 30 and 31: them, “Amen, amen, I say to you,
Page 32 and 33: Day 2 June 22, 2013Reflections for
Page 40 and 41: Day 10 June 30, 2013Reflections fo
Page 42 and 43: Day 12 July 2, 2013Reflections for
Page 44 and 45: Day 14 July 4, 2013Reflections for
Page 46 and 47: natural death, the unique meaning o
Page 48 and 49: in whom we find true freedom and la
Page 50 and 51: So shall I have an answer for those
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desires. If we live in the Spirit,
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For marriage:For all married couple
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What do we mean by religious libert
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The FortnightContinuesAmid growing
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MARRIAGE ANDRELIGIOUS FREEDOMUSCCB
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DISCRIMINATION AGAINST CHRISTIANSTU
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PROVIDING PASTORAL CARETO IMMIGRANT
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RELIGIOUS LIBERTYATTACKED IN INDONE
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RELIGIOUS FREEDOMATTACKED IN NIGERI
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Fortnight For Freedom - Diocese of Springfield in Illinois

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