Happy Independence Day!!
Sometimes it seems in America that people have "lost that loving feeling" for our great country. Perhaps this is about taking freedom for granted, forgetting about all the blessings we enjoy because we are free!
My great grandparents came here from Hungary at the turn of the 20th century, presumably to make a better life for their family. Others in our family came from Germany and Ireland for the same reasons. We have a pretty good life here in the USA! Opportunities abound for all people, you just have to reach out and grab them because they are available. With such a smorgasbord of opportunities, however, sometimes can create a system of dependency, entitlement, a laissez-faire. As citizens of the great country it is not always about what we can "get" from Uncle Sam but what can we contribute. (I think JFK said something to that effect!)
Many men and women have given their lives so that we might have this freedom and their lives must not be sacrificed in vain. Embrace your freedom. Serve your country in any way that you can!
In America we have the privilege of worshiping in freedom as well. It is our right.
Our Eucharistic liturgy points to a different right, "It is indeed our duty, right and joy that we should at all times in all places give thanks and praise to you, heavenly father" because you sent us Jesus- to free us, to break the bonds of captivity, to shatter systems of oppression and pain, to thwart the devil and his empty promises in our lives, and to draw us closer to the Father. Thus it is our duty to thank and praise God for this wondrous gift of his Son. Thus it is our obligation to worship the One who has granted us such freedom and grace. Now we are FREE! In Christ, we are truly FREE! So what does that mean for us, for our spiritual freedom. . . AND servitude?
"A Christian is the most free lord of all, and subject to none; a Christian is the most dutiful servant of all, and subject to every one." (Martin Luther)
Sounds like a contradiction in terms to be free yet servant but this is the paradox of faith. We are set free so that we may serve in holiness and love. We are set free so that we might look out for our neighbor. We are not free so that we may do what we want, when we want, however we want. No, that's not faith, that is hedonism. We are set free so that we might get over ourselves and live for Christ alone! We are set free so that we might joyfully live in utter obedience to Christ Jesus our Lord, our Master, our Beloved. We are new creations and we are freed to live that way- for our country, for our neighbors, for our Church, for the world. . . but mostly for Jesus. . . but when you look at Jesus' words, "When I was hungry you fed me, when I was in prison you visited me. . . " we realize that what we do for our neighbor we are really doing for our Beloved Christ.
Have a great day. Enjoy your freedom! (Both civil and spiritual!!!)
Image credit: moma.org; altar at TLC, Monroeville
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