One idea can be understood in many ways. In
understanding it using different context or framework might results to various
meaning or definition. For instance, the idea of freedom, we have different
understanding on it depending on our personality and in the influence of the
society where we are formed. For Jean – Paul Sartre, the famous existentialist
philosopher, man is freedom itself. His famous dictum, “Existence precedes
essence,” represents that man, as an actor rather than spectator, must
responsible for himself. Thus, for Sartre, man is totally free and we should
use our freedom responsibly in making who we are. For Karl Rhaner, a famous
theologian, freedom is not an infinite choice but definitive commitment. In
other words, freedom is to do what is ought to be done. We do something good
because we are committed to the commandments of God.
The first understanding of freedom entails
responsibility and the other one necessitates commitment. These two indications
help me to understand that the correct use of freedom is not a mere choice of
what I want to do. In simple sense, freedom entails choice – the capacity of a
person to have options in life. For example, freedom of animals is limited to
his movements. A dog cannot fly nor a fish walk. The same with the freedom of
man, it also entails in his condition. A new-born child cannot walk because he
is situated under such condition of being incapable of walking yet. Freedom in
the narrower sense involves our sense of openness, sense of responsibility, our
consciousness of choosing, and the reality of reward and punishment. These four
indications will help us to use our freedom well.
The first indication, sense of openness, is taken from
the reality that there is no constant thing in this world except change. Every
minute brings possibility. Moreover, we face that possibility that anything can
happen. There is a possibility that our life can change in time. This is the
reason that seminarians must practice a sense of openness to their
co-seminarians, formators, and to the formation. We cannot think of a stagnant
life-situation nor an immobile feeling. We cannot make our lives always happy
to the extent that we do not need spiritual directions, guidance, and
processing. But we are always confronted with various situations whether can encourage
or discourage us.
The second indication is the sense of responsibility.
For the Existentialist, we are responsible for our actions and for ourselves.
This implies that we are also free because we are responsible for our own self
and action. If we decide to embrace the vocation of priesthood, then take
responsibility of it. If we want to be holy, then take the responsibility to
pray and be compassionate.
Thirdly, our consciousness of choosing would matter.
It denotes our immediate experience of making decisions and choices to be or
not to be. We can choose what we want to do. In the seminary formation, we can
choose whether we attend mass, study, pray, etc. or not. But in choosing, we
cannot set aside our sense of guilt particularly when we choose to separate ourselves
in the realm of what is good and right. Whenever we feel guilt, we are
imprisoned of it, in this sense it is tantamount to say that we already lost
our freedom. Additionally, our choices determine our way of life – this is
called option. Furthermore, options are the product of our decisions. And if we
stand in our decisions, then preferential option comes after. It is that when
we decide to serve the poor and walk our decisions makes our preferential
option to the least, the lost, and the last in our society. If we decide to
study well and we did it, then it is our preferential option. To make this
possible, their must be a purification of our thoughts so that we could have a
good decision in life.
Lastly, we are influence by the reality of reward and
punishment. In human social existence, we praise good people and we condemned
those who are bad. Rewards and punishment entails that we are free to choose or
to determine our own life to what we want because there is an indication of
rewards and punishment. With this reality, man is free; to save life to attain
reward or to kill life to be condemned.
As a conclusion, freedom is always there and it’s up
to us on how we use it. If we want to be successful in life, we must use our
freedom responsibly. The right use of freedom can never be separated from
responsibility and commitment. Just like in our seminary formation, the
priest-formators will no longer always look our actions because we have the
responsibility in nurturing our vocations. We already know the punishment or
the consequences if we disregard our responsibilities. Our responsibilities
would be taking easier if we have commitment. Thus, to be responsible in our
freedom necessitates commitment.
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