Monday, June 27, 2016

Catholic Hermit: Scripture, Addendum on Being Chained



[Section of Scripture and addendum sent to spiritual father (director) of which I was going on about in a letter written to him.]

Perhaps it is not quite how I had read it, but the meaning seems clear that we are in essence chained to the Gospel.  We are chained but not in a criminal way, not bad, but chained to other souls, chained in Christ, chained in the liberating Gospel, the Living Word.  

We are saved by being chained in His Love, in His Real Presence, and thus for the sake of those who are chosen for us, for souls, so that they too may receive salvation that is the salvation in Jesus, and all then together with eternal glory.  

It does make sense, to consider ourselves chained to the freedom that is Christ, but chained for the work of souls, in a natural and good way, not trying to escape or pull against the good work that is the Gospel, and which does involve suffering that in a temporal sense can wrongly seem like suffering.  

It is really quite freeing to enjoy being chained in His Love, to His Real Presence, and then to the souls He chooses so that they can be saved in HIs eternal glory, all of us together, in wonderful chains that are not temporally binding at all.


From 2 Timothy:

“Beloved:
Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David:
such is my Gospel, for which I am suffering,
even to the point of chains, like a criminal.
But the word of God is not chained.
Therefore, I bear with everything for the sake of those who are chosen,
so that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus,
together with eternal glory.”

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