It is hard to believe that July is half over! I must say that some folks are still celebrating the 250th Birthday of our Nation, so I thought I would write one more reflection on freedom, as there is so much material out there. Words like Authentic Freedom, Inner Freedom, and responsibility are recent themes I’ve come across. I love this thought – True Freedom is not merely freedom from oppression; it is freedom for love, service, holiness, and human dignity.
In the last retreat group, we had wonderful conversations regarding this idea of ‘Freedom From and Freedom To’. Real interior freedom helps us choose the good, love, and live with peace rather than fear. To do this, we need to let go of things like anger, anxiety, and unhealthy attachments. How can we do this? We need to be fully present in the moment and come to know that God is with us and will be with us on our journey of “freedom from” to “freedom to.” The Catechism of the Church (1733) teaches that “The more one does what is good, the freer one becomes. There is no true freedom except in the service of what is good and just.”
In his book Peace Is Every Step, Thich Nhat Hanh reminds us that “Freedom is not given to us by anyone; we have to cultivate it ourselves. It is a daily practice.” We come to accomplish this by learning to trust in God’s providence, knowing that being in communion with God overflows into love of neighbor through works of compassion, mercy, and justice. It is important to remember that freedom is the deepest desire of every human heart; we are all God’s children.
During this coming week, sit with the thought of ‘Am I in need of being freed from something, so that I can be free to love, serve, and be for others?’ Where does Change need to take place?
Till next week,
Sister Theresita Donach, CSFN
