A sermon for the Seventh Sunday after Trinity, by Fr. Dan Suelzle.
Modern culture defines freedom as the unchecked pursuit of individual happiness—doing whatever feels good so long as it doesn’t break any laws or hurt others. Yet, this self-centered definition inevitably collapses into a hedonistic paradox: chasing endless selfish desires only leads to anxiety, emptiness, and a deeper form of bondage. As Christians, we recognize that we are never entirely autonomous; we are always serving a master. The critical question is: which one? Sin, which pays out only in death? Or Christ, whose apparent “slavery” is actually the only path to true, lasting liberty.
True freedom is not a self-help program or a checklist for behavioral modification, but a reality anchored entirely in the work of Jesus. Through Holy Baptism, our old, sinful nature is drowned, and Christ claims us as His own, shifting our ultimate allegiance. When we inevitably struggle with the flesh and fall short, our hope does not rely on our own willpower or renewed commitments, but on returning to the objective promises of our baptism, the forgiveness of the Holy Eucharist, and the truth of His Word. To be a slave to Christ is to be truly free, resting in a good and holy order that protects us from hurtful things and equips us for eternal life.
Listen to the full sermon below.
