Today, Jesus sets an example of freedom for us. We talk about it so much nowadays. But unlike what is proclaimed today—and even experienced—as “freedom,” the freedom Jesus speaks of is one that is entirely associated with and united to the Father’s action. He himself says: “I say to you, a son cannot do anything on his own, but only what he sees his father doing; for what he does, his son will do also” (Jn 5:19). And the Father works and acts solely out of love.

Love does not impose itself, yet it spurs action; it mobilizes, restoring life in abundance. That command of Jesus — “Come up and stand before us” (Lk 6:8) — possesses the renewing power of the One who loves and who acts through His word. Furthermore, the other command — “Stretch out your hand” (Lk 6:10) — which ultimately brings about the miracle, definitively restores strength and life to what was weak and dead. “To save” means to snatch from death, and it is the very same word translated as “to heal.” By healing him, Jesus restored what was dead within that poor, sick man, and that is a clear sign of God the Father’s love for His creatures. Thus, in the new creation — where the Son does nothing other than what he sees the Father do — the prevailing law will be that of love put into action, and not that of a rest that renders one “inactive,” even when it comes to doing good for a brother in need.

Today, then, freedom and love are the key: freedom and love lived as Jesus lived them. Saint Augustine’s maxim — “Love, and do what you will” — remains fully relevant today, guiding us to be wholly conformed to Christ the Savior.