EUCHARIST: ULTIMATE FREEDOM

 

Eucharist: Ultimate Freedom

robert r. lackney, permanent deacon

 

Our bishops outlined the key issues of religious freedom in “The Fortnight of Freedom”.   The philosophical and theological topics focused on Freedom and Liberty included: 

•The Thomistic definition of conscience.

•The Aristotelian understanding of how the state relates to a person's conscience.

•The comparison to the Individual Health Care Mandate decided by the Supreme Court. 

•The Bill of Rights: distinction between freedom of worship and the exercise of religion.

•An analysis of God, Goodness, and Freedom found in 21st Century Society.

 

These presentations have awakened a renewed respect for the Church leadership in America, our own diocese, and hopefully,  our Saints Peter and Paul parish family.

Galatians 5:1, suggests a biblical perspective in our personal search for Freedom and Liberty.

 

" … For Freedom Christ has set us free. So stand firm and do not submit again

to the yoke of slavery…"

 

We might ask: “Freedom?”  “Liberty?”

What does this mean to me as a Catholic?”

 

Traditional Catholics believe that “Inner Freedom” flows directly from God and is experienced in our life of Prayer, Sacrifice, and Personal Witness.

 

True Liberty, the “Inner Freedom”, that we desire, comes from living in God’s Presence.

Religious, Economic, and Political Freedom, are always at the service of Interior Freedom.

Consider the Great Saints martyred for their beliefs. Thomas More, John Fisher, St. John the Baptist, Saints Peter and Paul each laid down their lives for interior freedom.

These saints stood firm in the face of the Politics of a Collective Government determined to strip them of their religious freedom.  The life stories of saints always reflect the power of Prayer, Sacrifice, and Personal Witness in the midst of struggle, trial, and challenge.
 

Cardinal Dolan of NewYork, teaches that we lose our freedoms when:

We become silent and fail in our personal witness to the good things received in Christ.

 Liturgy is where we celebrate “Interior Freedom”.  This might be your experience, it is mine.

Christ  lives within our hearts and brings the:

Power to create the vision of Freedom, and the strength to fulfill the dream of Liberty.

 Christ gives to us the dream of Freedom and Liberty that no one can ever take away.
 

Peace and Only The Good Things

r.r.lackney, deacon,  My 4^th Day Journal, September 2012

PS: Just how free are we?

We remain free to the degree that Gifts of the Spirit are present in our lives.

St. Teresa says that Joy is the sign of God’s presence and this is:  Ultimate Freedom.