Free at Last!

Philippians 3:8

Indeed I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as refuse, in order that I may gain Christ.

Yesterday’s verses talked about the futility of this passing world and the folly of trying to be Top Dog in it.  Today’s verse points the way to liberation.  St. Paul didn’t cast longing glances back at all he left behind to follow Christ.  He looked back with relief on all the trumpery, twaddle, and fruitless toil he shucked off in his baptism.  He wasn’t kidding about being a “new creation” because he felt like a new man and missed the ruthless, sleepless, unsmiling concentration on self that characterized his old life as much as a horse misses the saddle or the risen Lazarus missed his graveclothes.  Today, thank God that you are, through your baptism, free at last, free at last!  Thank God Almighty you are free at last!

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Mark P. Shea is a popular Catholic writer and speaker. The author of numerous books, his most recent work is The Work of Mercy (Servant) and The Heart of Catholic Prayer (Our Sunday Visitor). Mark contributes numerous articles to many magazines, including his popular column “Connecting the Dots” for the National Catholic Register. Mark is known nationally for his one minute “Words of Encouragement” on Catholic radio. He also maintains the Catholic and Enjoying It blog and regularly blogs for National Catholic Register. He lives in Washington state with his wife, Janet, and their four sons.

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