Freedom

The only true freedom is the Will of God.  And surrendering to that is bound to be my life’s work…

Agony in the Garden (El Greko)

I have always disliked the idea of being told what to do.  Although I am actually very good at following rules (I am an accountant after all – and in essence that is what an accountant does – follows rules), I really do not like arbitrary rules being imposed on me.

I have been reflecting on this idea of freedom over the last few days.  After all, it is one thing to think about freedom in abstract terms and quite another to experience freedom – or the lack of it in your every day life.

There are so many times that I am not free.  In my family I am restricted by rules and obligations.  I could not – for example – have a new husband or boyfriend.  I could not – for example – leave my children without the adequate care that I have been entrusted to provide for them.  I could not – for example – become a glutton or a drunk or steal or lie uncontrollably – because this would be wrong and other people would be negatively impacted by those free choices.  In a way, these restrictions are examples of GOOD freedom because they result in the health of the family and the individuals within it…

There are also examples of BAD restrictions of freedom…  And these include that terrible time during the COVID-19 pandemic.  I found the restrictions on worship and familial interactions particularly troublesome.  While I could understand the concept behind such restrictions, I was seriously concerned about the distance they created between us and God through the formal mechanisms we used to worship…  And this is similar (in some ways) to the restrictions of Fascist and Communist governments on their people.

And I have been thinking – comparing – this concept of Earthly Freedom, with true freedom…  Saint Josemaria said, “The only freedom that can save man is Christian freedom.”

And I have been reflecting on that.  The MOST free souls that ever lived are Our Lord, Christ, and His Blessed Mother.  Both people were completely free.  In that I mean that if they had chosen to act in any way at all, God would have accommodated.  For Christ – He Himself could have chosen to act in any way at all.  Instead, He consciously decided to restrict Himself.  He held Himself to the Cross, even despite having the power to end the world.  His Holy Mother was ASKED (not told) to be the Mother of God.  The whole of creation (and even the Uncreated – God Himself) waited on her response.  And she responded by deferring to the Holy Will of God.

In the Garden of Gethsemane, Christ did the same…

“He said, ‘Father, if it’s your will, take this cup of suffering away from me. However, not my will but your will must be done.’” (Luke 22:42).

In His infinite Freedom, Christ demonstrated TRUE freedom – which is complete surrender to the Holy Will of God.  And I have been thinking about that today as I have been thinking about life and freedom and everything in it.

And it seems to me that the only true freedom is the Will of God.  And surrendering to that is bound to be my life’s work…

For with prayer, I stand on Holy Ground where everything is clear. Here. At the Foot of the Cross.