RULES vs. FREEDOM…Is there even a conflict?

Ask around and have a chat with the average person on the street about the Catholic Church. I can almost guarantee you that they’ll bring up all the “rules and regulations” of the Church. Many people in society, including Catholics themselves seem to hold the view that the Church is very “strict”. However, something that is never really considered much is the reason WHY we have rules. Think about it. Everyone always goes on about how we have so many rules – “Thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal, thou shalt not lie”, but nobody has ever really asked the question of WHY such rules exist.

Why is it, that in every society, there is a concept that it is wrong to kill? This is because there is an element of innate knowledge that to take a life is inherently WRONG. Perhaps it is natural law, or perhaps it is the way we were brought up, but whatever the reason, to go against the “rules” and guidelines of the Church (those summarised in the 10 commandments and CCC), would be only to hurt yourselves and others. The thing is, RULES are there to PROTECT us. That’s why we have laws – whether that is the government’s law in a country, Canon Law, or other laws set by people, the inherent nature is that it comes directly from God, who has set such innate boundaries in us to protect us – in a sense of which is NATURAL in our nature as human beings.

So, if rules are there to protect us, what’s wrong with us human beings? Why don’t we like them?

Well, the simple answer to that is simply because we like to be in control of our lives. We live in a society that tells us to be “FREE”, with the emphasis on “FREEDOM” as human beings, because as humans, we have “RIGHTS”. Nowadays, in the modern world, we seem to have rights to just about anything – even the right to kill people – just look at countries who have corporal punishment and think it’s up to them whether a person lives or dies – but, even the very ancient times of Roman civilizations worked like that! Everything we are surrounded by throws out this message that we should be “FREE” to do WHAT we want, WHEN we want, HOW we want. But, the question is, can you really call that freedom? No, not really!

True freedom comes from finding your innermost self – the true human being that God made you to be. Each one of us is blessed with particular charisms, with those gifts which flow naturally from the Holy Spirit. Until you find those gifts and use them freely to serve others, and make a positive difference, no matter how small, you will not find yourself. We were made to serve, and to give, not to keep taking and taking until we are so self-indulged we cannot see the needs of those around us any longer. Therefore, it is true freedom to be able to give yourself to God to do what He wills for you. Only then will you find fulfilment and satisfaction, and who you are meant to be. St. Catherine of Sienna said that if you are who God wants you to be, you will set the whole world on fire! So be that person!

There is no conflict between rules and freedom. Only a conflict between self-interest and selfless service.

TRUE FREEDOM comes from SERVICE to God in the VOCATION which He GIVES to YOU.