John
Locke, the English philosopher who so influenced the American revolutionaries,
drew a contrast between liberty — the freedom to do what we ought — and licence
— the freedom to do what we want.
Tonight,
in the UK, we have (temporarily) lost a fair degree of licence, although many
of us still have a great deal of privilege to do those things we want without
leaving our own homes. But we have lost none of our liberty, beyond that which
we had already given away by elevating licence as an idol. Who knows, but that
in this time of national emergency, we might re-learn a deeper freedom, to love
our neighbour as we ourselves have been loved by the God who comes to his
people and sets them free?
“If
the Son sets you free, you shall be free indeed.” Jesus, John 8:36
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