Every once in awhile it helps me to go back to some of the theological books I collected in seminary and early priesthood. There I find in writing some of the “fundamental principles” that help explain the Christian Faith. Words that define realities like “person”, “truth”, “guilt”, “love”, “spirit”, “history”, etc.
Let’s look at one of these defining principles . . . . Freedom. What is freedom exactly?
For a twelve-year-old mind, freedom means “staying up late ‘cause there’s no school tomorrow!” Or . . . summer vacation starts this Friday! Or . . . no homework. For a child, freedom means “not having to do something”, which thereby makes them free to do whatever they want. In fact, we all have this initial experience of being “set free”.
On closer look however, things go much deeper. Human freedom is what sets man apart from everything else in creation. Think of it. Every creature you see, whether (as we used to say) animal, vegetable, or mineral, is harnessed to a natural order which totally determines what it becomes.
The flowers in spring, the geese flying south in a wing, that stone at the end of your driveway, are all part of a natural order. This “order of nature” requires flower, goose, and stone to act in a particular, predetermined way in order for them to be what they are. (Beware! The goose that stops by your kitchen to have coffee with you is really not a goose!).
Isn’t this fun?!
The human being however is a different creature. We are set in “openness” to becoming. (It’s like we’re driving a convertible with the top down . . . while the rest of nature drives a hard top with the windows closed!)
That means we must discover the character of our nature – – – who I am. Our freedom is not “freedom from” but freedom “for”. We are summoned by our freedom to action that defines us as we go. We become “truth tellers” or “generous” or “patient” or “forgiving”.
Or, equal in possibility, we can become “liars”, “greedy”, “unforgiving”, etc. It’s up to us. We’re free. This is the wonderful dignity of the human being as created by God. God has made us, in effect, co-creators of ourselves. Our actions put into history who we are. We “become”. And because it was done in freedom . . . we become “responsible for it”.
Some people don’t like this. The responsibility that weighs on every human to create for themselves their own character and to stand by that as defining who they are . . . is too heavy.
“I just wanna be. I’m the boss. I say what I want to do. And, oh by the way, nobody tells me who I am or what I should become.”
Now here’s the kicker . . . Don’t miss this. Our human nature, as created by God, is to share in His nature! God created us to have His love as our meaning.
We know this because God has revealed it to us in Revelation (Sacred Scripture). What does the bible tell us about ourselves?
- We are made in God’s image and likeness (Genesis).
- We are God’s children. 1 John3: 1-3 “But it is not yet clear what we shall become . . . but we know when Christ appears (the Day of the Resurrection) we shall become like him, because we shall see him as he really is.”
- Ireneaus said it centuries ago; “the glory of man is to see God.”
- The purpose of the gift of freedom is to one day share in the nature of God…. that is a share in the pure, selfless, joyful, eternal giving of Himself in the relationship of the Trinity. God has a place for us in the Trinity!
So back here on earth – – – what are we to do with our freedom? Love God with all our heart. And love our neighbor as Christ has loved us.
Let’s get to work!
Fr. Tim
