PENTECOST V
July 5, 2020
“Called to Freedom in Christ”
How do we celebrate freedom during this time of restrictions and limitations? It’s another out-of-sync event (or non-event) during which we might as well reminisce about past Fourth of July fun or watch TV programs featuring reruns of previous celebrations. The battle cry of “Freedom!” is echoing in a number of places around the country — freedom from wearing a mask, freedom to go to large gatherings, basically, to just do anything we want. We’re even seeing incidents of “virus rage” where individuals are furious at being asked to take measures to help protect others from infection. The mindset that freedom is synonymous with doing whatever one pleases is so completely backward it’s almost laughable. Take a moment to consider our country’s early history. The colonial leaders who came together to take a dangerous step toward independence from England didn’t just want to have their own way. They could see that the colonies would be used and exploited, and they would never be respected as equals in the eyes of the English. The ideals of freedom and independence came at a high cost, and the accounts of these times tell of hardship, loss and sacrifice. Christian freedom means much more than personal liberty, and as Paul wrote to the Galatians: “For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” “For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters, only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another. For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, “‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”Galatians 5:1, 13-14 As followers of Jesus’ teachings, we are not only freed from the slavery of the law, but we are freed for bringing Christ’s love to our neighbors. We are notrequired to be in service to others, but we are free to do so as we reflect God’s love and Jesus’ call to love our neighbors as ourselves. Hand in hand with the empowerment of freedom comes responsibility. We’ve heard it expressed in numerous ways, such as “To those whom much is given, much is required” and, of course, “Freedom isn’t free.” Responsibilities can weigh heavily on our shoulders, and we might feel resentful or overburdened. However, think what it would be like to be on the other side of the fence — with neither freedoms nor responsibilities. People in those situations would likely trade places with us in a heartbeat. As Christians, we are blessed to have been given the gift of spiritual freedom, and the understanding that God’s love will shine through in what we do for others. And then follows the knowledge that responsibility is actually a gift, and our actions speak loudly and clearly that we are followers of our Savior, Jesus the Christ, living according to his teachings for the good of all humanity.
Your friend in Christ,
Mary Rogers