Readings: Galatians 5:1, 13-25;
Luke 9:51-62 Proper 8C
July 1, 2001
The Rev. Karen Siegfriedt
St. Jude the Apostle Church, Cupertino CA,
The fall of the Berlin Wall on November 9, 1989 and the collapse of Communist oppression in the Eastern-bloc countries have focused attention on the ever-widening potential for freedom throughout the world. Whether in Africa, Indonesia, or South America, the advance of freedom is fundamental in becoming human.
This Wednesday, our country will celebrate its 225th anniversary of freedom from British rule. As a nation, "we hold certain truths to be self-evident, that all people are created equal and that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights." These rights include, "Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness…And whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government." (Declaration of Independence, 1776)
What was it that empowered 56 patriots to sign the Declaration of Independence- a document which required that they pledge their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor for the sake of securing freedom for the people in the 13 colonies? As you might know, five of the signers were captured by the British as traitors and tortured before they died. Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Two lost their sons who served in the Revolution Army and another had two sons taken as prisoners. Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or hardships of the Revolutionary War. Others died as paupers or watched members of their own family suffer through the trials of the war.
These brave, educated men were willing to sacrifice their security, their lives, and their families for the sake of freedom. Because of their unwavering courage, persistence, and sacrifice, they paved the way for an Independent America - the land of the free and the home of the brave. Once these patriots became clear about their priorities and goals, they put their hand to the plow and never looked back! Their model of life and thirst for justice and freedom is a legacy for all Americans to treasure.
The "Western" view of freedom is derived from the two principal strands of our tradition: 1) The Jewish strand which emphasizes freedom in socio-political attitudes. 2) The Greco-Roman strand which stresses freedom in personal attitudes. While the American Patriots strove for freedom in the socio-political realm, St. Paul calls us to strive equally as hard for personal freedom. In particular, he talks about the freedom to choose love over fear and the freedom to allow our heart to be vitalized by the Spirit of God. Let's take a closer look at today's reading from the Epistle of Paul to the Galatians.
Because Americans enjoy more freedom than most people in the world, we often do not reflect upon our status when it comes to internal freedom. Although we have Constitutional rights, just how free are we? Are we free from destructive emotions that control our lives? Are we free to choose to do right when we know what is right or do we end up doing the very things we don't want to do? Does uninvited anger infect our conversations and relationships, sapping the joy from our lives? Are we able to control the impulses of addiction, whether they be related to food, alcohol, sex, or material consumption? Paul reminds the people of Galatia that they can be enslaved by the destructive powers that operate in the mind, the unconsciousness, and the body. But he also tells them that were called to freedom and that there is a way to obtain this internal freedom.
It is almost easier to free ourselves from the tyranny of government than to free ourselves from the tyranny of those unhealthy internal powers that corrupt and destroy the creatures of God. How many of us are enslaved by history, allowing past events in our lives to continue to give us pain; memories of injustices endured of which we are unable to forgive and from which we unable to move forward? How many of us are enslaved to the feelings of hurt or depression, unable to resolve the conflicts and trials of everyday life? How many of our children and teenagers are enslaved by their homework, believing that making straight A's will provide them with ultimate happiness and a secure future? How many of our men are enslaved by their jobs, compromising their integrity in hopes of a gold mine at the end of the tunnel? How many of us are enslaved by unhappy marriages, unable to work through the challenges of strife and differences? Paul calls these inner turmoils "works of the flesh."
Now before you allow yourselves to get turned off by Paul's words, let me remind you that these so called "works of the flesh" do not specifically refer to sexual activity. If you look at Paul's list of "works of the flesh", you will notice that only three of the items on the list are of a sexual nature, most of which are exploitive in quality. Most of the "works of the flesh" that Paul addresses, occur above the belt and have to do with a heart that is fearful rather than loving. Paul tells us that life does not need to be this way. He claims that we can free ourselves from emotions and behaviors that cause darkness in ourselves and in our relationships. We can have an inner life that is free from anger, addiction, broken relationships, and fear.
How do we obtain this inner freedom? Do we obtain this inner freedom by following a bunch of rules and regulations? Do we obtain this inner freedom by swallowing a horse pill of laws invented by the institutional Church? No! Paul says that internal freedom grows organically in the mind when a person chooses to "live in the Spirit." Living in the Spirit means that we commit our lives to God; that we allow the Spirit of God to mold our hearts, minds, and bodies; that we follow the path of love in all relationships. Living in the Spirit means that we do not seek after other powers in the world to make us whole but rather that we keep our eyes focused on God as revealed by Jesus Christ. Living in the Spirit means that once we put our hand to the plow, we like the American patriots never look back. Living in the Spirit means that as we grow in faith, the love of God will overwhelm us such that our will and God's will are knit together in holy union. When this happens, we become a new person in Christ. The works of the flesh will have no power over us and the fruit of the spirit will become evident.
How do we know when we are living in the Spirit? We are living in the Spirit when we experience love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control, in our lives. This is a state of mind that is truly free. And this freedom is available to all who pledge their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor to God in Christ. What more could a person want in life?
| Updated 7/1/01 |
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