Freedom with Others
1 Peter 2:16
“Freedom is not something man has for himself, but something he has for others.”
—CREATION AND FALL
Freedom is not a possession we have in and of ourselves. Freedom emerges in relationships and in response to particular situations. Freedom is thus never a static reality; it is something that needs to be gained again and again. Christ does not set us free once. We need to appropriate that freedom again and again because we are so adept at replacing freedom with form, and grace with law. Freedom, moreover, is only there when it is experienced in concert with others. If I experience freedom from oppression but my brothers and sisters in Christ or my neighbors do not, my freedom is but a mirage.
Thought
Freedom is not a personal possession, but a communal reality.
What is your prayer thought for today’s lesson?