LET US BE ADDICTED
Wednesday in the 5th Week of Lent
John 8: 31-42
All forms of addiction are based on a lie. Alcoholism, among many other definitions, is based on the lie that alcohol makes us forget our problems. But how can we forget our problems when it is precisely our problems that urge us to drink alcohol excessively? Alcoholism is, in fact, an added problem.
Addiction to nicotine is based on a lie, too. Its lie is that we cannot survive a day without a cigarette. But a day without a cigarette actually makes us live better and longer. Nicotine does not pacify; it immobilizes us because it kills – and that is the truth.
Drug dependency is based on a lie. Drug dependents or dependents on prohibited substances think that they need prohibited drugs or substances to function normally. We function normally only when we are not abnormally dependent on any chemical or substance. Addiction to prohibited drugs and substances is an abnormality. It is based on a lie.
Sin is also based on a lie. We sin because believe in Satan, the father of sin and prince of darkness, the author of all lies. When we say we do not need God, we lie. When we live as if we did not come from God and will not return to Him, we lie. When we think we can survive isolated from God and others, we lie. When we are convinced that we do not need to consider the good of others so long as our good is secured, we lie. When we tell God that we need His forgiveness and yet are deaf to the pleadings of those who need our forgiveness, we lie. When we say that we love God, whom we cannot see, but yet hate our fellow human beings, whom we can see, we lie. When we care for the sanctification of people and yet are indifferent to the violence done to Mother Nature, we lie. When we are pious but are not generous, we lie. When we are generous but we give with strings attached, we lie. When we lie, be it black, gray or white, we sin. And when we sin, we are not free; we are slaves.
If we want to be free, let us be truthful. No matter when, no matter where, let us be on the side of the truth always. No matter how painful it may be, be truthful always. The truth shall set us free.
If we want to be truly free, let our freedom be truthful, too. True freedom is freedom for the good of everyone. To be truly free is to be free so as to serve and to love both God and man. Our freedom is true when we are free to be truthful.
Look at the cross; it has the figure of the letter “t”. Is it merely coincidental that the word “true” begins with the figure of the cross? “T” for truthfulness? “T” for the figure of the cross?
Each time we look at the cross, may we always remember to be truthful. Each time we meditate on the cross, may we strive all the more to be truthful. Each time we pray before the cross, may we also examine our selves how truthful we really are. Each time we venerate the cross, may we be blest with more truthfulness in our lives.
The Gospels tell us that Jesus’ truthfulness was both a permanent decision and an enduring action. Thus, no one who ever walked on the face of the earth is more free a man than Jesus. For only the truth sets us free.
But Jesus was not only truthful. He was compassionate as well. Truth without compassion can be very brutal. Bereft of compassion, truth can be an easy alibi for violence. Jesus showed us how to be truthful and compassionate at the same time. We behold in His very person the marriage of truth and compassion. In Jesus, we see that the union of the two produces love.
Truth is the antithesis of all lies. But it is love that makes truth effectively heal all forms of addiction. Let us be addicted to love like Jesus; it is the only addiction that is not based on any lie.
John 8: 31-42
All forms of addiction are based on a lie. Alcoholism, among many other definitions, is based on the lie that alcohol makes us forget our problems. But how can we forget our problems when it is precisely our problems that urge us to drink alcohol excessively? Alcoholism is, in fact, an added problem.
Addiction to nicotine is based on a lie, too. Its lie is that we cannot survive a day without a cigarette. But a day without a cigarette actually makes us live better and longer. Nicotine does not pacify; it immobilizes us because it kills – and that is the truth.
Drug dependency is based on a lie. Drug dependents or dependents on prohibited substances think that they need prohibited drugs or substances to function normally. We function normally only when we are not abnormally dependent on any chemical or substance. Addiction to prohibited drugs and substances is an abnormality. It is based on a lie.
Sin is also based on a lie. We sin because believe in Satan, the father of sin and prince of darkness, the author of all lies. When we say we do not need God, we lie. When we live as if we did not come from God and will not return to Him, we lie. When we think we can survive isolated from God and others, we lie. When we are convinced that we do not need to consider the good of others so long as our good is secured, we lie. When we tell God that we need His forgiveness and yet are deaf to the pleadings of those who need our forgiveness, we lie. When we say that we love God, whom we cannot see, but yet hate our fellow human beings, whom we can see, we lie. When we care for the sanctification of people and yet are indifferent to the violence done to Mother Nature, we lie. When we are pious but are not generous, we lie. When we are generous but we give with strings attached, we lie. When we lie, be it black, gray or white, we sin. And when we sin, we are not free; we are slaves.
If we want to be free, let us be truthful. No matter when, no matter where, let us be on the side of the truth always. No matter how painful it may be, be truthful always. The truth shall set us free.
If we want to be truly free, let our freedom be truthful, too. True freedom is freedom for the good of everyone. To be truly free is to be free so as to serve and to love both God and man. Our freedom is true when we are free to be truthful.
Look at the cross; it has the figure of the letter “t”. Is it merely coincidental that the word “true” begins with the figure of the cross? “T” for truthfulness? “T” for the figure of the cross?
Each time we look at the cross, may we always remember to be truthful. Each time we meditate on the cross, may we strive all the more to be truthful. Each time we pray before the cross, may we also examine our selves how truthful we really are. Each time we venerate the cross, may we be blest with more truthfulness in our lives.
The Gospels tell us that Jesus’ truthfulness was both a permanent decision and an enduring action. Thus, no one who ever walked on the face of the earth is more free a man than Jesus. For only the truth sets us free.
But Jesus was not only truthful. He was compassionate as well. Truth without compassion can be very brutal. Bereft of compassion, truth can be an easy alibi for violence. Jesus showed us how to be truthful and compassionate at the same time. We behold in His very person the marriage of truth and compassion. In Jesus, we see that the union of the two produces love.
Truth is the antithesis of all lies. But it is love that makes truth effectively heal all forms of addiction. Let us be addicted to love like Jesus; it is the only addiction that is not based on any lie.
posted by Fr. Bobby @ 3:00 PM
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