Christian liberty is freedom to take a step from the good to the best

The liturgy of the sixth Sunday in ordinary time is based on the following readings: Sirach 15: 15-20; Psalm 119; 1 Corinthians 2: 6-10; Matthew 5:17-37. The main theme of these readings is liberty as a Christian virtue and value. Sirach tells us that man was created free right from the beginning and he is responsible for the choices he makes in life: ‘When, in the beginning, the Lord created human beings, he left them free to do as they wished. If you want to, you can keep the Lord’s commands. You can decide whether you will be loyal to him or not. He has placed fire and water before you; reach out and take whichever you want. You have a choice between life and death; you will get whichever you choose’. In the Gospel, Jesus Christ brings a new order of freedom and liberty as a mark for Christianity. He speaks with authority and offers us a new way of looking at things free from different traditional obligations: “You have heard that it was said.... But I say to you …” That new way of looking at things is Christian. Finally, St. Paul exhorts the Corinthians to understand Christian liberty not as doing whatever we want, but the freedom to choose the higher good; the divine. For those who shall have made such a good choice, God has prepared “What no eye has seen, and no ear has heard.” 1Cor.5:9. At times, liberty may be understood as the capacity to choose. And that is part of our daily life. We have to choose between one thing and another, between one form of behavior and another. These little every day choices are guided by the fundamental choice: “a choice between right and wrong.” This ethical principle is not optional; it is inscribed in the very laws of the human spirit and, therefore, cannot be ignored, without putting one’s very humanity at a high risk.This fundamental principle was made more specific in the commandments given to the Jewish people through Moses, but its value is universal, because it remains above all particular circumstances or situations. This is what today’s Gospel reminds us, “You shall not kill.” “You shall not commit adultery.” “You shall not swear falsely.” Although we are told what we should avoid, implicitly, it involves as well the good we must pursue: respect for life, faithfulness to one’s spouse, the truth. These are principles valid for all seasons and with all men. A Christian is free when he or she is able to act under the inspiration of the Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit which helps us in proper discernment, when this meets the necessary docility it allows the Christian the fullest use of freedom, in continuously taking the step from the good to the best. The Christian liberty does not insist on what is commanded by society but what one’s Christian conscience dictates. Today, Christians should not belong to the school of “Do your own thing” which is often the manifesto of many freedom movements. In most cases when the individual blindly follows the desire of his own heart he or she becomes too self-centered to see what is objectively good or bad. And this is not real freedom according to the Bible. Jesus said in John 8:34, “Whosoever commits sin is the servant of sin.” While most human liberation movements can not fully set a person free, Jesus can. He said, “If the Son, therefore, shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed” (John 8:36). That freedom that comes from above is the manifesto of Christianity. Today we live in a very pluralistic society such that any form of liberty in order to deserve that name must exercise great discernment. Our Christian experience is that pluralism can really affect the way we see right and wrong. It is therefore a guarantee that we can remain ourselves without conforming to the things we do not believe in. We must be free and respectful of those who are different from us. Tolerance too is another important mark of Christianity because it allows unity in diversity. All this however does not mean that we should be weakened! On the contrary pluralism should strengthen our convictions which should help us to defend our faith and our position. And all this should be done in right measures so that we may not end up into fanaticism or intransigence with those who do not share our faith and our morals. Respect for differences, constructive dialogue and, above all, the witness of a coherent Christian life, must be the guide in our daily choices and the cornerstone of our liberty as Christians. Ends