First Reading - Romans 6:12-18
Gospel - Luke 12:39-48
One of the greatest gifts God has given us is the freedom to choose — the freedom to shape our lives by the decisions we make each day. But with that freedom comes responsibility. What we choose determines not only the kind of person we become, but also how we respond to God’s grace. Today’s readings remind us that true freedom is not doing whatever we please, but living in obedience to God’s will — a freedom that leads to peace, purpose, and joy.
In the first reading, St. Paul speaks very clearly about two kinds of slavery: slavery to sin and slavery to righteousness. At first, the word “slavery” sounds harsh, but Paul uses it to show that none of us is truly neutral — we all serve something or someone. When we give in to sin, we slowly lose our freedom; we become trapped by habits, desires, and attitudes that pull us away from God. But when we offer ourselves to God and live according to His will, we discover the freedom that comes from love — a freedom that brings life and fulfillment. True freedom, Paul reminds us, is not the absence of rules, but the presence of grace guiding us toward what is good.
In the Gospel, Jesus tells a parable about servants waiting for their master’s return. Some are watchful and responsible, caring for what has been entrusted to them. Others become careless, using their freedom selfishly. Jesus’ message is simple yet powerful: those who have been given much — in faith, in opportunity, in responsibility — are called to live with vigilance and integrity. “To whom much is given, much will be required.”
This parable challenges us to look honestly at how we use the gifts God has given us — our time, our talents, our influence, our faith. Are we using them to build up others, to serve, and to love? Or are we wasting them on things that fade away? The Lord invites us not to live in fear of His return, but to live every day in readiness, using our freedom well and our gifts faithfully.
Dear friends, being faithful in the small things — in how we speak, how we treat others, how we pray, and how we serve. God doesn’t expect perfection, but He does ask for sincerity. When we live each day as a gift, with a sense of accountability to God, our lives become a light for others and a source of joy for ourselves.
God’s grace has set us free — not to live for ourselves, but to live for Him who loves us. The true measure of our freedom is not in how much we can do, but in how much we can love. Let us use our freedom wisely, serve faithfully, and live each day with open hearts, so that when the Master comes, He may find us ready, watchful, and joyful in His service.
May we, by God’s grace, live as servants who are truly free — free to love, free to serve, and free to shine with the light of Christ.
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