LESSON 2: We are
Called to be Free
Path 4: Meaning of
Human Freedom
Path 5: Levels of
Freedom
Path 6: Freedom &
Moral Obligation
Option 2:
• Reflect and enumerate your
“free”
and
“unfree”
experiences.
SHARING…
Guide Questions:
1. Identify the time when you think you were
free.
2. Why do you think you were free in that
circumstance?
3. Through the experiences you cited, what
connotation do most of us have on freedom?
4. Do you truly believe that these are the
definitions of freedom?
Sacred Scriptures: John 4:4-42
Guide Questions:
1. What do you think is the reason
why Jesus visited the place of
Shechem, Samaria? Is there any
reason why He stopped over that
place?
2. Can you consider the
Samaritan woman free in
the story? Yes or No, then
Why?
3. What do you think are the
reasons why the woman is
fetching water at noon
time?
4. What do you think is
the water in the story
symbolizes?
5. What kind of God did
the Samaritan woman
encountered in the
story?
- Jesus wants the Samaritan to change her
life from being a sinner to a loving and
good person.
- Jesus revealed her sinful past. Jesus
revealed her true identity.
- He instructs the woman to leave the jar
with water that means that He is
instructing the woman to change to a
better one.
- Jesus Christ wants to exercise authentic
freedom for us to achieve life
everlasting.
- Ezekiel 18:21 says, “But if the wicked
man turns away from all the sins he
committed, if he does all my decrees and
does what is right and just, he shall
surely live, he shall not die.”
Church Teaching: Pastoral Constitution in
the Modern World (Gaudium et Spes 17)
Only in freedom can man direct himself toward
goodness. Our contemporaries make much of this
freedom and pursue it eagerly; and rightly so, to be
sure. Often, however, they foster it perversely as a
license for doing whatever pleases them, even if it is
evil.
For it is part, authentic freedom is an exceptional
sign of divine image within man. For God has willed
that man be left “in the hand of his own counsel” so
that he can seek his creator spontaneously, and come
freely to utter and blissful perfection through loyalty to
Him.
Freedom is NOT:
• A license to do anything I want, even
if it is evil
• Nothing or nobody dictates
• Having
no
limitations
and
responsibilities
• When can I have endless fun and
excitements
What FREEDOM is?
• realized when a person does what is
good- always towards goodness
• always social and relational
• has a moral limit: welfare of others
• exceptional
• sign of divine image within a person
THEREFORE, FREEDOM IS…
•Choosing to do
what is good.
- When we achieve the true
dignity of our freedom when.
- To grow in Maturity.
• Choosing to do what is good.
Sacred Scriptures: Galatians
5:1, 13, 16 “True Freedom”
ACTIVITY: Read
the scriptures silently
with your partners.
Sacred Scriptures: Galatians
5:1, 13, 16 “True Freedom”
Answer the following questions:
1. What does “cravings of the flesh” mean?
2. The statement, “It was for liberty that Christ freed
us” states that Christ saved us. He saved us from
what?
3. We are called to live in what way?
Sacred Scriptures: Galatians
5:1, 13, 16 “True Freedom”
“It was for liberty that Christ
freed us. So stand firm, and
do not take on yourselves
the yoke of slavery for the
second time!
Sacred Scriptures: Galatians
5:1, 13, 16 “True Freedom”
My brothers, remember that
you have been called to live
in freedom—but not a
freedom that gives free
rein to the flesh.
Sacred Scriptures: Galatians
5:1, 13, 16 “True Freedom”
Out of love, place yourselves
at one another’s service.
My point is that you should
live in accord with the
Spirit and will not yield
Sacred Scriptures: Galatians
5:1, 13, 16 “True Freedom”
to the cravings of the flesh.”
Church Teaching: CFC 696-687
Authentic freedom involves two
aspects:
• Freedom from- is a deliverance from
anything and everything that hinders
us from doing the good and
developing the true self.
• Freedom from everything that
opposes our true self-becoming with
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Interior Obstacles
- Ignorance
- Disordered Passions
- Fears
- Guilt
- Personality Defects
- Bad Habits
- Prejudices
- Psychological and Emotional
Disturbances
Exterior Obstacles
- Violence or Threats of Violence
- Economic Instability
- Social Pressure
- Political or Cultural Influences
What is the greatest single obstacle to
our authentic exercise of freedom?
SIN…
Church Teaching: CFC 696-687
• Freedom for - is the power to work
towards fulfillment to which our
nature is ordered and to which Christ
invites us full life in His kingdom.
• Freedom for growing as full persons
and children of God, sharing in the
life of Christ. It is the freedom found
in AUTHENTIC LOVE.
With Dignity
Innately Good
We must free ourselves from those
obstacles for it makes us less human and
hinders us to grow to full persons.
Reflect…
WHAT ARE MY PERSONAL
OBSTACLES?
• What is/are the reason/s why we
continue to allow those obstacles in our
life?
Church Teaching: CFC 697
2 Levels of Freedom
1. Freedom of Choice
– Man’s gift of freedom refers
to our capacity to make
choices.
Without FREEDOM we can’t make a choice
between…
Church Teaching: CFC 697
2. Fundamental Freedom
– Who we are today and will be in the future
is based mostly on our free acts.
- Our being who we are is a result of our
choosing.
- There is no other way of developing
ourselves except through our free choices.
• Truly, what ever our choices in life tell us who we
are as a person. And every choice we make has
an effect either good or bad depending on its
nature. Letting go of our obstacles and
embracing our nature as dignified being who
are innately good capable of becoming full
persons is always the best choice we can make.
Deciding to be this kind of person everyday
makes us truly human and leads us to God’s
Kingdom.
Good Vibrations….
•
What is/are the obstacle/s the man in the
window has?
•
Who among the characters exercise
authentic freedom?
•
Among the choices presented, what do you
think is the best choice, why?
“Story of Zaccheaus” Luke 19:1-10
- READ SILENTLY…
Questions:
• What kind of life did Zaccheus have?
• What did Zaccheus hear about
Jesus?
• What did Zaccheus decide to do
upon hearing that Jesus is coming
in Jericho?
• What does this act of Zaccheus
imply?
Answers:
What kind of life did
Zaccheus have?
• A man who reached the top of
his proffesion as a tax collector.
He was wealthy but he was not
happy.
Answers:
What
did
Zaccheus
decide to do upon
hearing that Jesus is
coming in Jericho?
• He decided to see Jesus.
Answers:
What does this act of
Zaccheus imply?
• He was reaching out for the
love of God. He wanted to
change his sinful lifestyle and
be truly happy.
Answers:
What is the effect of Jesus
in the life of Zaccheus?
• He was inspired to purify his life
of greed and indifference and to
fulfill his moral obligations to his
brethren and those who he may
have cheated.
Church Teaching: Dignitatis Humanae 11
• Authentic Freedom and
moral
obligation
are
related.
Church Teaching: Dignitatis Humanae 11
What
is
the
difference
COMMANDMENTS and GUIDELINES?
• Commandments – MUST
• Guidelines – Just a GUIDE
of
Church Teaching: Dignitatis
Humanae 11
• All commandments foster
freedom...
• It LEADS US TO BECOME FULL
PERSONS.
• Frees us from OBSTACLES for us
to be FULL PERSONS.
Church Teaching: Dignitatis Humanae 11
• Authentic Moral Obligation
helps us to be freer by
directing all of us against what
is sinful and harmful and leads
us to what is right and loving
relationship with God.
Church Teaching: Dignitatis Humanae 11
• Moral obligation moves us,
it’s not forced or out of
compulsion but doing it
freely with whole hearts.
TRULY FREE = TRULY
HAPPY!
“Conversion is possible through
JESUS CHRIST, through
the HOLY SPIRIT who
enables us to change from
what is evil to what is good for
others and for ourselves.”
Activity: Interview (Role Play)
• By committee
• One of the members of each committee will act as a
reporter.
• The reporter will ask different members of the
community.
• She will ask what is freedom for him/her and how can
she pursue what is good?
• Selected members of the committee will act as priest,
vendor, fisherman, farmer, teacher, student, mother,
fireman, politician
Criteria:
• Content – 10
• Cooperation – 3
• Creativity and Stage Presence – 2
TOTAL : 15 POINTS
INTEGRATION: Doctrine
Freedom is authentically exercised in
choosing and pursuing what is morally good. In
essence, it is the power to choose to act like
someone who is created in God’s image and
likeness. We are rational beings created with
intellect and free will and thus, responsible for
our own free acts. Through our free actions, we
gradually shape our own life and can become
the person we are called to be in following
Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Questions;
1. Give a COMPREHENSIVE
DEFINITION OF FREEDOM BASED
ON THE SCRIPTURES & CHURCH
TEACHINGS.
- Authentic Freedom - choosing to do
what is good.
- Authentic freedom is fully realized in
Jesus Christ, our Savior. It is the grace
and power of Christ’s Spirit within us
the liberates us from sin so that we
may live a life of loving service to our
fellow man.
2. What are the two levels of
freedom according to CFC 696687?
• Freedom from-is a deliverance from
anything and everything that hinders us
from doing the good and developing the
true self.
• Freedom for- is the power to work
towards fulfillment to which our nature
is ordered and to which Christ invites us
full life in His kingdom.
3. Why freedom is never separated
with moral obligation?
- Freedom and moral obligation are
always together and do not
contradict each other. Authentic
moral obligation helps us to be freer
by directing all of us against what is
sinful and harmful and leads us to
what is right.
• Share your personal experience
of freedom. Relate the following
concepts above with your
answers.
EVALUATION:
I. Write FREE if the statement is true. Write FLEE is the
statement is false.
1. The Samaritan woman’s decision to
get water from the well at noon is a
sign of freedom.
2. Jesus revealed the past of the
woman to reveal the Samaritan’s
identity.
3. The choices which we make every
day greatly affect our self-becoming.
4. Freedom from is a deliverance from
anything and everything that
hinders us from doing the good and
developing the true self.
5. Freedom from is the power to work
towards fulfillment to which our nature
is ordered and to which Christ invites us
full life in His kingdom.
6. Authentic moral obligation helps us to
be freer by directing all of us against
what is sinful and harmful and leads us
to what is right.
7. We need not free ourselves from
anything and everything that may
hinder our vocation to become the
person we’re called to be.
8. We need to direct ourselves toward the
good so that we may grow as full
persons and children of God the divine
life of Christ through the Spirit.
II. Essay:
• 9. - 11. Define the meaning of freedom
according to the Scriptures and Church
Teachings. Cite personal examples. (5
sentences only)
• 12. – 15. Based on your new
understanding of freedom, what are you
challenged to do to be truly free?
*Answer the question above by
illustrating your own symbol of freedom.
Give its brief explanation.
Psalm 8
O Lord, our Lord, how great is your
name throughout the earth! And
your glory in the heavens above.
Even the mouths of children and
infants exalt your glory in front of
your foes and put to shame
enemies and rebels.
Psalm 8
When I observe the heavens,
the work of your hands, the
moon and the stars you set in
their place---what is mortal
that you are mindful of him,
the son of man, that you
should care for him?
Psalm 8
Yet you made him a little lower than
the angels; you have crowned him
with glory and honor. You made
him rule over the works of your
hands; you put all things under his
feet---sheep and oxen without
number and even the beasts of the
field.
Psalm 8
The bird of the air, the fish
of the sea, and all that
swim the paths of the
ocean. O Lord, our Lord,
how great is your name all
over earth!