Fr. Gregory Pine, O.P., a Dominican priest and author, discusses the concept of freedom and its relationship with divine freedom. They explore affirming the object of love, God's plan of redemption, and vocational discernment. The podcast highlights the gift of freedom from God and their work on the 'God's Planning' podcast and a retreat for young adults.
Human freedom is a participation in divine freedom through abiding by God's law.
True freedom involves being fixed in the pursuit of God while enjoying the various means and options along the way.
Deep dives
Freedom as a Sharing in Divine Freedom
Our human freedom is not in conflict or competition with divine freedom, but rather a sharing and participation in it. St. John Paul II proposed the concept of participated theonomy, where abiding by God's law allows us to partake in God's own freedom and discover that it enriches and emboldens our own freedom. Our freedom is not about maximizing options or indulging in license, but about pursuing excellence and being fixed in the end, which is God himself.
Fixity and Play in Freedom
To be truly free, we should be fixed in our pursuit of God, not allowing anything to distract or deter us. This fixity does not restrict our means, as true freedom allows us to play with various options in order to affirm the end, which is God. For example, like enjoying different flavors of gelato at a wonderful shop, we find that it is not necessary to exhaustively study and choose the best option, but rather to simply enjoy the experience with the goal of loving and affirming God. God's dealings with creation and redemption also exemplify this playfulness in his choices.
Freedom as Educated Fixity and Play
In order to participate in divine freedom, we need to be educated in a certain fixity and play. Fixity involves seeking to affirm God in all that we do, growing in love of God and neighbor as a response to the recognition that all is a gift. Playfulness allows us to choose among different means and explore our individual calling and vocations, trusting that God is present and guiding us in our decisions. Our freedom is not a burden, but an opportunity to express divine joy and excitement in revealing God's glory in creation and redemption.