The Gift of Free Will Given us at Birth

In today's first reading, Judges 2: 11-19, we are reminded of how Israel became ensnared in worshiping false gods, Baals. The consequence was that God "allowed them to fall into the power of their enemies around about whom they were no longer able to withstand."   God likewise respects our free will, even when we use it to make poor choices.  As we choose the false gods that society offers us or that our "friends" convince us will increase our freedom and/or prove our adulthood--when we are deceived into believing that God substitutes will give us the peace we crave--we, like the Israelites, will get to a point where we are unable to withstand the power of Satan! With the psalmist, let us cry out:  "Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people" (Psalm 106). And, with the good thief on the cross, let us turn to the Lord and ask to be remembered by Him in His Kingdom!  God, the psalmist tells us, has "regard for [our] affliction" when we cry out to Him, come to our senses and abandon our false gods.