Freedom: A Love Free of Laws

Nov 01, 2009 by Fr Luke Palumbis

“We assemble not in the church to pass away the time, but to gain some great benefit for our souls.”
Saint John Chrysostom

Can there ever be an experience absent of rules that does not lead to anarchy?  Without borders to individual and societal action, the combination of multiple agendas, both intentional and instinctual, will continually impact one another, ultimately with damaging force, which will provoke destruction on permanent levels.  Imagine for a moment, if for just one day the city of Stockton announced there would be no laws, no assumed rules of edict, and no repercussions in response to any actions.  After one day of ‘freedom,’ one may wonder how long it would take to restore Stockton to it’s previous state?

Therefore, the question is asked; “Can there by freedom without restraints?”  Is there a culture, a government, a society, a community, an institution, or any form of relationship that claims freedom, without a balance of law? 

There is only one union that experiences true freedom, absent of law; a pure experience and union with God.  The perfect awareness of pure freedom can only come to fruition when we participate in His immaculate love, which when complete, negates the purpose and necessity of the law in every sense.  Plainly stated, when authentic love is experienced, there is no need for laws and constraints, and perfect freedom may finally be achieved. 

As God is love, He extends this opportunity of true freedom to us on a continual basis, yet due to our self-inflicted limitation of sin, we fail to respond and never achieve a sustained experience of that freedom on earth.  There are moments, as brief as they may be, that we are blessed with a glimpse of freedom free of constraint, true love absent of law.  These are the moments when we choose to rid ourselves of preconceived notions, agendas, ego, and pride, and replace them all with simple and profound desire for God in our life.  These are the moments of true mystery, when we give ourselves up to the awesomeness and lovingkindness of our Father who art in Heaven. 

As we pray the Divine Liturgy during these approaching great celebrations; The Nativity of Our Lord, The Feast Day of our Patron Saint Basil the Great, and each experience of The Lord’s Day, it is our opportunity to receive that perfect freedom extended to us by God—that great benefit to our soul that Saint John Chrysostom writes; the perfect freedom that is the perfect experience of love.