The vanity (1)
Vanity is a very widespread specific form of non-freedom, which is easily underestimated in its negative effect if we follow seriously the Lord. It has many forms, although it may also affect women in particular in terms of appearance.
True freedom can only be gained through complete devotion to Christ. It is therefore not a question of the freedom which man possesses as a gift from God, because he is man, but we speak of that freedom which we can only possess in the way of Christian perfection. Therefore, the theme we have considered in recent days is related to the theme of true freedom, what means the inner transformation in Christ. This transformation causes that the image of God should unfold more and more within us.
Fears
We all know many fears that make our lives unfree and burdened: fear of serious illness, threat of people, fear of existence, fears of death and many other fears – including irrational fears. All these fears are confronted with a word of the Lord: “In the world you are afraid, but be confident, I have overcome the world” (Jn 16:33), and thus the way of overcoming of the fears is also shown.
With the last reflections, we have entered a wide area which is intended to help us to live our Christian faith more liberated. Various forms of non-freedom prevent God’s love from penetrating us completely and, despite the wonderful faith that has been given to us, threaten to leave us in some inner prisons; at least we cannot taste all the freedom that God wants to give us. “Only the Son sets you free” is what Jesus let us understand (cf. Jn 8,36).
In the last reflection, we have dealt with the theme of human fear and pondered how this lack of freedom burdens us and weakens the testimony of a liberated life in Christ.
But this human fear is not only a personal burden and restriction that indirectly affects other people, it can also lead to sin.
„The fear of man“
In the last four reflections, I have focused on the grave situation of an idolatry in the context of the Amazon Synod.
Other aspects of this Synod are important to understand and should be reflected as well. However, I think it would be better to bring up some further detailed reflections in a separate block. This will soon arrive in Spanish and possibly also in English. I will inform the audience if there are certain topics that were mentioned in the meditations and were put down in more detail on the blog.
We heard at the end of the last reflection that Pope Francis said that the Pachamama statues had been integrated without idolatrous intent.
Without questening the Pope’s utterance, I do not think that this statement clarifies the situation.
There are two things to note here. Read More
Today’s reflections will only be comprehensible if the reflections of 3 October are taken into account.
I ask all listeners to be patient, but this issue needs a certain deepening, because this is a significant ecclesiastical matter which may not be properly perceived in its explosiveness.
We have to face the serious situation whether acts of idolatry actually took place on 4 October 2019 and in the following days during the Amazon Synod, thus insulting God.
Dear listeners of daily meditations,
today I combine the answering of questions with a topic, which I have already raised several times and would like to comment again.
I am concerned about the situation of the Church and also about the uncertainty that believers express about some of the developments in this pontificate. These uncertainties come to me as concrete questions.
Dear listeners of our daily meditations.
When questions are asked which might be of general interest I decided towards the end of the month to answer them in the daily meditations.
Today two questions.
