#antislaveryday

Edmund Burke (1729-1797) Irish statesman, author, orator, political theorist, and philosopher.   

Freedom is the word used in our times to describe human flourishing.  Freedom for the individual to be themselves in a safe and supportive environment.  A great vision – enshrined in Human Rights legislation and aspiration.

The great paradox of our times is that the more we speak about freedom, the more we discover about oppression and abuse.  Amongst the most shocking challenges is the worldwide prevalence of modern slavery.  Fellow human beings trapped as sex slaves, forced labour, pressured organ donors.

Freedom has become a space for the powerful, the criminal and the self-centred to exploit others – not least because when a human being is reduced to the size of the individual, each potentially ‘free’ person is in fact vulnerable and weak.

The Gospel task is to recover ‘freedom’ as the gift of God.  The calling to fulfil ourselves not by indulging our appetites, but by relating creatively and graciously to our ‘neighbours’ - a term which especially includes the needy stranger struggling in the gutter of this life’s busy rush (Luke 1025-37).

There is an opportunity through which we can witness to the Good News for us and for others.  Sunday has been earmarked as Freedom Sunday.  Resources are available to help our public worship and our private devotions to be focused upon freedom – for those trapped in exploitation and slavery, and for our own witness to an understanding of freedom rooted not in individual rights, but in the call to find fulfilment through service to others, especially those in need.

I hope that we can each try to make a commitment to freedom.  Giving thanks for the freedoms we are privileged to enjoy, praying for a richer witness to freedom in our world, and trying to use resources for Freedom Sunday and further this vital work of the Good News of Jesus Christ for our times.