Father Droste Reflects On Freedom

Newly-ordained Father Christopher Droste delivered the homily at the annual Independence Day Mass, celebrated by the four parish cluster of Christ the King, Holy Rosary, Holy Spirit and Nativity. He is the associate pastor at Christ the King and Holy Spirit parishes.

I was honored when Father Henry asked me to give the homily for today’s Mass on this wonderful holiday, the day that we celebrate our freedom as a nation. This cherished freedom is what perhaps identifies and unites us most as citizens. This high ideal of freedom is what founded this country, and made it into the land of opportunity. However, because it’s so valuable to us, because it’s so idealized, it’s also the very treasure that’s created a source of contention and strife between ourselves and with other nations, especially when we sense this freedom is abused, reduced, or threatened. Just look at our history — it’s a story of freedom — from our origins up until the present day, the drama of freedom has pushed us to the limits at every turn. It’s for this reason that we have to ask ourselves: How free are we today? How do we experience freedom now?

I’m afraid for most of us, when we think of freedom, of independence, it’s reduced to the freedom I experienced when I was a teenager. That freedom was the ability to do what I want, to have what I want. I have a right to whatever my heart desires, whatever satisfies me the most. Freedom is my right, our right, to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, right? Perhaps this is true at an instinctual level; we are most free when we can choose what grants us our heart’s desire, what makes us happy. However, if we’re really aware of ourselves, we know we have a conscience, that there’s a condition to freedom. We know that this desire for freedom, this God given right to choose doesn’t always hit the mark. Sometimes on the road to freedom, we can choose the wrong path; we can choose something less than what’s really satisfying. Instead of choosing the good, there’s the possibility to choose evil. Freedom can allow us our heart’s desire, but it can make a mistake, it can lead us down a path of destruction, despair and doubt in the long run. Often freedom is defined as choice; however freedom’s dignity doesn’t depend on our choices, freedom’s promise really comes from the ability, the possibility to choose, the possibility to choose the good. So how do we know we’re on the right path, how can we not reduce our freedom, or worse be afraid to use it? How do know we’re on the right road, and our experience is true?

The response for us gathered here today as people of faith shouldn’t simply reflect some nostalgia of the American ideal, or our own selfish desires, rather we should look to the greatest object of our freedom, God Himself. For us, freedom doesn’t come in the form of an abstract ideal, but a living person, Jesus Christ, who is the embodiment of freedom. The fascination with this man, the event of his life is where we encounter, and set out on the journey to search for our meaning of freedom. We don’t first think of ourselves, we think of following someone — Jesus. When we remember Him, and follow Him, we look closely at his life, how he lived in freedom. We don’t see an isolated, ego-driven, do as I please, live for the moment maverick; no, we see someone who lived his life in total communion with His Father in heaven. He had a mission, a destiny to be reached that was carried out in total love and obedience to His Father, in union with the Holy Spirit. This relationship of love, this desire to do His Father’s will, is what made him the freest man to ever live! And this is our life too! We share in His life! As children of His Father, our Father, this is our path to true freedom, true happiness, now and into eternity!

The fact that we follow someone’s ideal of freedom that is greater than our own, and for the fact that this someone isn’t just a politician, or a philosopher, but rather the God-man — Jesus Christ, is what will always make Christianity, our faith seem intolerable, like a threat, an imposition to some, perhaps many. This is why our religious freedom will always be challenged, questioned, threatened and tested. However, the moment we feel the need to defend ourselves we run the risk of reducing our own gift of freedom. Although it’s our responsibility to remain vigilant, and work to protect our rights, and those of others as citizens of this country, our belonging to Jesus, our wonder at the life of this man, and our following of Him, our proclamation of His life, and His proposal of freedom is what should predominate our concern at the present moment of crisis. The road to freedom in Christ promises us everything, and this is more than we can imagine in the moment. Let us not forget that the road to freedom leads to Him, and if we’re truly fascinated with Christ, if we love our freedom, then we’ll love our obedience to Christ above all things. Where there is faith, there is freedom! (St. Ambrose) We know that this path doesn’t simply lead to instant gratification, because this path is also the way of the Cross, the way of suffering and sacrifice. On this day of freedom, let us help each other to embrace this path that’s before us, the only path of hope, the path that leads to life, to fulfillment, not just in the moment, but hopefully to eternity!