. . . you will truly be free." (Jn 8:31-42)
"Freedom from" or "freedom for"? It seems as our election process continues, we try to define the freedoms which we believe our country embraced at it's founding. I cannot help but think of this as I hear Jesus say "If the Son frees you, you will truly be free."
I wonder if the freedom I seek as a Catholic in the United States is in sync with the freedom Jesus is talking about. I wonder if I have allowed my values to be altered by the anti-Christian spin that today, so many put upon the meaning of the word "freedom."
I forget too easily that Jesus said "This is why the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own. I have power to lay it down and power to take it up again." (Jn 10:17-18)
What does this mean to me? Well that true freedom doesn't mean to do anything I please, or anything I may be able to do technologically or medically or scientifically. It means doing what personally costs me. I am the most free when I surrender and give up my own ego or opinion or plans, so that others may have their way. I am most free when I die to myself so that another may receive the blessings that my unconditional love may bring. I am most imprisoned in "chains" of my own doing when I selfishly restrain myself from loving another because it may be too great an effort, or feel uncomfortable or be unpopular with contemporary thinking.
In short, I choose freedom "from" my own needs and wants so that I may exercise Christlike "freedom for" all others.
May our nation choose liberty, true liberty "from" and liberty "for" as well as justice for all. This is another way of dying to self so that others may live. Lord Jesus, help us to be truly free.
"Freedom from" or "freedom for"? It seems as our election process continues, we try to define the freedoms which we believe our country embraced at it's founding. I cannot help but think of this as I hear Jesus say "If the Son frees you, you will truly be free."
I wonder if the freedom I seek as a Catholic in the United States is in sync with the freedom Jesus is talking about. I wonder if I have allowed my values to be altered by the anti-Christian spin that today, so many put upon the meaning of the word "freedom."
I forget too easily that Jesus said "This is why the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own. I have power to lay it down and power to take it up again." (Jn 10:17-18)
What does this mean to me? Well that true freedom doesn't mean to do anything I please, or anything I may be able to do technologically or medically or scientifically. It means doing what personally costs me. I am the most free when I surrender and give up my own ego or opinion or plans, so that others may have their way. I am most free when I die to myself so that another may receive the blessings that my unconditional love may bring. I am most imprisoned in "chains" of my own doing when I selfishly restrain myself from loving another because it may be too great an effort, or feel uncomfortable or be unpopular with contemporary thinking.
In short, I choose freedom "from" my own needs and wants so that I may exercise Christlike "freedom for" all others.
May our nation choose liberty, true liberty "from" and liberty "for" as well as justice for all. This is another way of dying to self so that others may live. Lord Jesus, help us to be truly free.
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