The Truth Will Set You Free (John 8:32)

“You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32)

In order to catch spider monkeys from the jungles of South America, the hunters use an interesting system called the ‘monkey trap’. Their goal is to take the monkeys alive and unharmed for shipment to various zoos. The captors use heavy bottles, with narrow necks, into which they deposit a handful of sweet-smelling nuts (mostly peanuts). The bottles are placed on the jungle floor. The monkeys, enticed by the aromatic scent of the nuts come to investigate the bottle and the nuts. Once they grab the nut from the bottom of the bottle, their fists are trapped. Instead of letting go of the nut, the monkeys just sit there until the captors return. The hunters scoop up monkey and jar… and take both home. Because the monkeys are not prepared to let go of a small nut, they lose their freedom.

We may either feel sorry or smile at the foolish monkeys. But aren’t we just like the monkeys? How often do we hold on to our sins in spite of knowing that it’s wrong? We are so trapped in sin that we become a slave to it. Lust, addiction, drug abuse are all harmful practices that can only bring us temporary pleasures. Once we walk these paths its all downhill from there onwards, there is no slowing down or turning back. We may enjoy the adrenaline rush but these addictions enslave us. Another type of slavery is to wealth, power and position. They become our idols. It is almost impossible for a human being to have possessions without subjecting oneself to them and becoming a slave.

Jesus plainly told the Jews that sin enslaves (v.34). Whoever wants to follow him must know that we have here below no permanent dwelling. The more deeply we become aware of it, the more ardently we shall aim towards our future dwelling, and we shall exult in the thought that we will find our home in heaven. By going our own way and trying to ‘free’ ourselves from God, we actually become bound to sin. And, in this bondage, sin will blind us to healthy, life-giving alternatives, stifling our freedom to choose.

Jesus is the only way to true freedom. He won that freedom for us by dying on the Cross; putting to death sin and everything else that keeps us in bondage. He doesn’t want anything to control you. He is more than capable of satisfying your deepest needs. Jesus has set you free! Take steps to lay hold of the freedom that he has won for you. Go to the Sacrament of Reconciliation it is the most wonderful gift. It is said that when we confess our sins, God casts them into the deepest ocean and He places a sign on the shore that reads: “Caution – No Fishing Here!” In the Sacrament of Reconciliation, Jesus does much more than just forgive our sins. At every confession, he pours out streams of grace, empowering us to be set free from our sins and their effects. No matter how big the sin is, the mercy of God is infinitely vast. This lent acknowledge your sin and helplessness to the Lord. He will lend you his hand and pull you out from the jar of sin in which you are trapped.

“Lord Jesus, open my eyes to the things that bind me up. Give me faith and courage to taste the freedom you have won for me.”