The saddening observation (in today’s gospel) that Jesus did not work many mighty deeds at Nazareth because of their lack of faith, highlights the close connection between faith and free will. For, as faith in God deepens, so does our freedom to trust God and open our hearts to receive his love. Conversely, weak or nonexistent faith renders us defensive, suspicious, and resistant to opening up to God love, will, and power. If Jesus had worked mighty deeds among his own people of Nazareth, he would have risked overwhelming and violating their ability to choose freely to receive him into their hearts and lives. And so the paradox: Acts of faith and trusting surrender to God feel like the loss of freedom, whereas the opposite is actually true—every act of faith is but one step closer to true and inner freedom. And as Saint Alphonsus discovered, the deeper our inner freedom, the mightier are the deeds that Jesus can and will work in and through us.