Lesson 3: Growing in

Authentic Human Freedom

“ If you remain in my word, you will truly be my
disciples, and you will know the truth, and the
truth will set you free.”
-Jn 8:31-32
“Everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin. A
slave does not remain in a household forever,
but a son always remains. So if a son frees
you, then you will truly be free.”
-Jn 8: 34-36
Veritatis Splendor 87

Jesus reveals by his whole life, and not by His

words, that freedom is acquired in love, that
is in the gift of self.
What is freedom?
• the absence of necessity, coercion, or constraint in
choice or action
• Liberation from slavery or restraint or from the
power of another : INDEPENDENCE
-MERRIAM WEBSTER
 FREEDOM

• means so much more than “having

more options”
FREEDOM METER
 FREEDOM

• means so much more that “having

more options”
• Freedom is a gift from God that helps us to be
truly happy.
• Through the Holy Spirit, freedom is
perfected.
• “where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is
freedom.” 2 Cor 3:17
FREEDOM IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

 God called his people to become truly free.

 Exodus is the most important experience of
freedom among Israel
 Moses performed different miracles-plagues
(Ex 7-11)
 Crossing the red sea (Ex 14)
 Providing them with Quail and Manna (Ex 16-17)
 2 IMPORTANT VIEWS

1. FREEDOM IS RELATIONAL
• It is always lived in the community
• It is fostered when people respect the
dignity of all persons
• Our freedom is threatened when other
people “do things on their way” without
regard for the other members of the
community.
Examples
1. By Picking pieces of trash in or classroom, all
gain freedom of clean school environment
2. By driving car responsibly, passenger’s life
and that of the people in the streets are
safeguarded.
3. By not playing too loud music, neighbors
have the freedom to rest and sleep
comfortably.
4. By not gossiping, others are freed from
discrimination and prejudice.
 2. FREEDOM IS DOING THE GOOD

• True freedom is not our capacity

to do anything we want.
• It is our capacity to do what we
should as persons in community
• True freedom is doing the good.
FREEDOM IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

• Through Jesus’ example we become aware

that it is through loving God and others that
we become free.
• Lk 4: 18 (The spirit of the Lord…)
• By his death and resurrection, He empowers
us, (HOLY SPIRIT) to overcome sin and self-
centeredness: abuses of freedom.
• SIN- is the greatest obstacle to human
freedom CFC 696
2 SENSES OF FREEDOM

1. Freedom From
-obstacles that hinders us from truly
loving God and others.
Interior Threat- coming from within like fear,
doubts, disordered desires, prejudice,
ignorance.
Exterior Threat- forces or realities in our
community that influence us to act in
self-centered way like violence,
oppression, racial prejudice, human
rights violation, poverty, peer pressure,
media, or lack of parental supervision
2. Freedom For
- things we need in growing as
true persons for others in the
likeness of Christ.
- authentic love, genuine concern and
sincere desire for goodness of others.
 LEVELS OF FREEDOM

1. Free Choice
-is the freedom we have to choose and do
particular acts
2. Fundamental Freedom
-person’s basic option underlying all his
particular moral choices.
-the freedom that I am or I become because
of the moral choices.
 GROWING IN FREEDOM
1. Become more aware of how we
freely choose.
2. Act in the way that considers
others
3. Reflect on and identify our
personal values
4. Nurture our prayer life
SUMMATIVE TEST IN LESSON 3