the declaration of independent dependence
" 'To help you realize that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins' — He then said to the paralyzed man — 'Stand up! Roll up your mat, and go home.' The man stood up and went toward his home." —Matthew 9:6-7
On this Independence Day in the USA, are you independent from sin and paralysis because you are utterly dependent on the Lord? Everyone is both independent and dependent simultaneously. Everyone is both free and enslaved. The question is "whether yours is the slavery of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to justice" (Rm 6:16).
"Now that you are freed from sin and have become slaves of God, your benefit is sanctification as you tend toward eternal life" (Rm 6:22). Are you dependent on God so as to be free to trust Him even with the life of your loved one? (see Gn 22:2) Are you so free in Jesus as to lay down your own life for Him?
Independence can be a curse as well as a blessing. It depends on what we choose independence from. If we refuse to choose, the devil forces us to be dependent on him and independent of God. We don't have to decide in favor of the devil. If we just refuse to decide for Jesus, the devil can do his thing in our lives. To make no decision for Jesus is actually a decision, because Satan has no respect for our free will.
Therefore, we must decide to be totally dependent on Jesus and independent of Satan and sin. Make this Independence Day the best one of all. Make a "Declaration of Dependence" on Jesus.
Prayer: Jesus, I trust You utterly.
Promise: "The house of Israel trusts in the Lord; He is their Help and their Shield." —Ps 115:9
Praise: St. Elizabeth's holiness eventually led to the conversion of her adulterous husband.
Reference: (For a related teaching, order our leaflet, Living in Reality, or our four-tape audio series starting with AV 38-1 or two-tape video series starting with V-38.)
Rescript: †Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, January 18, 2013
The Nihil Obstat ("Permission to Publish") is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted the Nihil Obstat agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.