Freedom is defined as the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint. But the actual meaning of Freedom is much more complex than that, as ‘Freedom’ is linked to responsibility.
Archbishop Fulton Sheen in his TV presentation on“Freedom and Moral Responsibility” in September 2012, explains the irony of being free and morally responsible at the same time.We cannot have it both ways; if we are free, we are responsible; if we are not responsible; we are not free. If a man is free, he has to be held accountable for all his thoughts, desires and actions.If we are to maintain a free world, we have to maintain a responsible world. Man has been given by God, a regal power of Choice and with this faculty he cannot be driven into sin by any social forces, unless he willingly consents.He summarized his discourse by saying “Freedom must entail moral responsibility”.
Psychologists or Freudian interpretations may blame genes, situations and environments. Darwinian explanation or Marxian Communistic notions may blame wrong arrangement of atoms. But a man can only be free to freely determine his condition for all eternity.A record shall be taken from our conscience on the last day on which is written the guilty and the praiseworthy deeds of our life. The universe is free because we will be judged as responsible beings.
One of the main truths of divine freedom is that Jesus is more concerned about setting our soul free than any other external force in our life. Freedom is not a lack of restrain that allows one to fulfill any selfish desire, but genuine freedom takes place in the light of divine truth. As we abide in Christ we are released from the chains of the world and released to be, all that God created us to be. We are created to live in the truth of God’s love. God did not create us to be Robots. He gives us the freedom to make moral choices. God made us in His image, so that we are not like animals that go by instinct.
Quotations
Genesis 1:27 says “God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him”. We are human beings with a conscience; therefore we must use our God given conscience in using our free will.
We must be willing to live with the consequences of our choices. While we are free to choose anything we want to do in life, we are not free from the consequences of that choice.
Abraham Lincoln said -“We cannot have it both ways; No people can remain half slave and half free”.
Rick Warren,in “The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I here for?” says “If not to God, you will surrender to the opinions or expectations of others, to money, to resentment, to fear, or to your own pride, lusts or ego. You were designed to worship God and if you fail to worship Him, you will create other things to give your life to. You are free to choose what you surrender to but you are not free from the consequences of that choice”.
Deuteronomy 30:15 - “Today I am giving you a choice between good and evil, between life and death”.
Ecclesiastes 3:17 - “In due season God will judge everything man does, both good and bad”.
Galatians 5:13 - “You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh]; rather, serve one another humbly in love”.
Our Lady of Lanka
As we celebrate our independence as a free nation on the 4th of February, it is also linked to a special milestone in the history of the Catholic Church in Sri Lanka, for on this day we join in celebrating the Feast of Our Lady of Lanka. It was Archbishop Jean Marie Masson O.M.I. (24.08.1938 to 02.07.1947) who made it possible for us to celebrate this Special Feast.
Archbishop Masson was the last foreign Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Colombo. He played a pivotal role in the pre-independence era of the Archdiocese of Colombo. He was loved by the people of the Archdiocese and his vision was a classic example for all. At a time when the country was threatened with war, he made a Vow to Our Blessed Mother on 26th May 1940, that if Ceylon was spared the ravages of War, he would build a votive Shrine in her name under the title of “Our Lady of Lanka”and entrusted the safety of Sri Lanka to her maternal care. As promised, a Basilica was built in Thanksgiving to Our Lady of Lanka for protecting Sri Lanka from the hazards of the 2nd World War.
The mantle of fulfilling this vow and building the votive Shrine, fell on the shoulders of his successor, His Eminence Thomas Cardinal Cooray OMI. The construction of the edifice was completed in 1973 and on 6th February 1974 the Basilica was consecrated together with the Statue of Our Lady crowned as “Our Lady of Lanka”on the same day. The Holy Father Pope Paul VI endowed the Church with the title of a Minor Basilica.
For this, Archbishop Masson was loved and respected by all Sri Lankans, irrespective of their religion. His initiative brought about a great love and devotion to “Our Lady of Lanka”, as she is affectionately known. Today it stands as the only Basilica in Sri Lanka, where the highest number of devotees throng to celebrate the Feasts of Our Lady each year.
On this Independence Day, let us join in thanking God for the freedom we enjoy in our country. Let us also ask Our Lady of Lanka to intercede for us and ensure that we and the generations to come will have freedom in this country, within a society that protects true freedom.