mur-c-mi

How do you spend your freedom?

Since the Pope died it's been like the Gospel is all over the airwaves. John Paul II is being revered as one of the greatest Popes to have graced this earth so consequently his speeches and talks have become a focal point. He stood for Jesus. He stood for life in a conveluted time. Because of these convictions and many more, every quote is pure gold. I'ts caused me to think, what would people quote me for? I think most of the things that tumble out of my mouth I would hardly want quoted publically.

A friend of mine mentioned excerpts of a speech from when John Paul II returned to his homeland of Poland three years after the fall of communism. He was angry and tearfully exhorted them because since the fall of communism they'd turned to Western Materialism. He said "Freedom spent on self only brings death"( he was specifically referring to euthanasia and abortion). Think about how true that is. If we spend our freedom on self something has to be forfeited. Some life has to be given for the benefit of another. It's almost as true as gravity. So no wonder Abortion and Euthanasia have become and will continue to be pressing issues. If we look around there are more forms of death prevelant even beyond these.
Divorce, Greed, Isolation, Exploitation, War
Lack of reconcilation, Famine, Idolatry, Slavery
Lust, Disunity Betrayal,........ and the list goes on

"He who seeks to save his life will loose it and he who loses his life will gain it."

I learned this week is that when a Cardinal is elected to the Papacy, he is taken to the Room of tears." In this room he removes the clothes he wore before and takes on his new name and papel garments. It is said that some have spent considerable amounts of time there under the gravity of dying to his old life and facing the vast realization that he is no longer living for himself. His life is no longer his own. When John Paul's will & testament was revealed it was very simple. He asked that his journals be burned and various books being given to his close attendants if they cared for them. In the vast array of wealth of Vatican city was a man who hardly had a one earthly possession because he left everything as he past through the Room of tears.


"Present yourselves as a living sacrifice ... this is your new temple worship." Rom 12

posted by kt @ 4/13/2005 05:56:00 PM