GROW IN FAITH: YOUTH – Authority and Freedom

Does Obedience Limit Me?

Opening Prayer

Lord,
You created me free.
Help me understand what freedom truly is.
Teach me how authority and truth
serve human dignity rather than restrict it.
Amen.

Part One

The Modern Assumption

Many people assume that freedom means:

Deciding for yourself.

Being independent of authority.

Rejecting limits.

Following your own judgement.

In this view, authority feels restrictive.

If the Church teaches something definite,
it may seem to narrow options.

But before asking whether authority limits freedom,
we must ask:

What is freedom?

If freedom means “doing whatever I want,”
then all authority appears threatening.

But is that what freedom really is?

Pause and Reflect

When I say I want freedom, what do I mean?

Do I think freedom means unlimited choice?

Have I ever mistaken impulse for freedom?

Part Two

Freedom and Truth

Consider a simple example.

If someone ignores the laws of mathematics,
they cannot build a stable bridge.

If someone ignores the laws of health,
they harm their body.

Truth does not restrict freedom.
It makes freedom effective.

If reality has structure,
then freedom must operate within that structure.

Otherwise it becomes self-destructive.

The Church teaches that freedom is:

The ability to choose what is truly good.

Not merely the ability to choose anything.

A person addicted to harmful behaviour
may insist they are free.

But are they?

Freedom without truth becomes slavery to impulse.

Authority rooted in truth protects freedom.

Consider

If morality is objective,
can ignoring it increase freedom?

Is someone more free when they lack self-control?

Does discipline reduce freedom,
or strengthen it?

Part Three

Why Authority Exists

All authority exists for a purpose.

Parents exercise authority
to protect and guide.

Teachers exercise authority
to transmit knowledge.

Laws exercise authority
to protect society.

Authority is not inherently oppressive.

It depends on its source and purpose.

The Catholic Church claims authority
not because she invented it,
but because Christ entrusted it to her.

If Christ is Lord,
and if He rose from the dead,
then His authority is real.

The Church’s teaching authority
exists to preserve truth and protect souls.

Authority divorced from truth is tyranny.

Authority grounded in truth is service.

Reflect

Do I react against authority automatically?

Have I confused guidance with control?

If Christ has authority,
does obedience diminish me
or align me with reality?

Part Four

Obedience and Maturity

Obedience is often misunderstood.

It is not blind submission.

It is intelligent trust.

In ordinary life, we accept expert authority:

We trust engineers about bridges.

We trust doctors about treatment.

We trust mathematicians about equations.

We do not see this as weakness.

We see it as rational.

The Church does not claim infallibility in everything.

She claims protection from error
in matters of faith and morals.

If she is correct about that claim,
then listening to her is not loss of freedom.

It is alignment with truth.

Maturity is not rebellion.

It is discerning when authority is legitimate.

If Christ gave authority to His Church,
then rejecting that authority
is not independence from men alone —
it is independence from Him.

Quiet Reflection

Sit quietly for a moment.

Ask yourself:

Do I see obedience as weakness?

If Christ is Lord,
what does that imply about my freedom?

Remain in silence.

This Week

Choose one:

• Reflect on one teaching of the Church you struggle with and ask why.
• Notice how authority functions in daily life.
• Consider whether freedom without truth leads to confusion.
• Pray simply: “Lord, teach me true freedom.”

Closing Prayer

Lord,
You are not a tyrant but the source of truth.
Teach me that obedience to You
does not diminish me
but perfects my freedom.
Lead me into maturity and fidelity.
Amen.