Independence Day is a time for us to stop and give thanks for our country, for democracy and for freedom. It is a time for us to remember all the people who sacrificed so much to preserve our democratic way of life. It is a time for us to remember that our freedom was born out of persecution and suffering. And it is a time for us to remember the great principles that grew out of that persecution and suffering. "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all people] are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness." As citizens of the United States of America, we have an obligation to uphold the rights our founders held so dear. We uphold these rights by fulfilling certain responsibilities: obeying the laws, paying our taxes, serving as witnesses when necessary, serving on juries and voting. And, in times of conflict, we are expected to defend our country.
Jesus reminds us in today's gospel, Luke 10:1-12, 17-20, that in addition to our worldly citizenship, God calls us to citizenship in His kingdom. Our obligation as citizens of the kingdom of God is to put God at the center of our lives. Our responsibilities as citizens of the kingdom of God are to be willing workers, to deliver God's message of peace and to be visible signs of God's presence in our world. With God at the center of our lives, we can experience the same nurture and comfort that graced the lives of the people of Judah in our first reading from Isaiah 66:10-14c. We too can rejoice, exalt and be glad because our "names are written in heaven" (Luke 10:20).
So, on this Independence Day, we should thank God for the gift of this country, for the gift of freedom and for the gift of democracy. We also should thank God for the gift of His Son Jesus Christ who sacrificed his life assuring that we can be citizens of God's kingdom.
God of all nations,
Father of the human family,
We give you thanks for the freedom we exercise
And the many blessings of democracy we enjoy
In these United States of America.
We ask for your protection and guidance
For all who devote themselves to the common good,
Working for justice and peace at home and around the world.
We lift up all our duly elected leaders and public servants,
Those who will serve us as president, as legislators and judges,
And those in the military and law enforcement.
Heal us from our differences and unite us, O Lord,
With a common purpose, dedication, and commitment
To achieve liberty and justice in the years ahead for all people,
And especially those who are most vulnerable in our midst.
Amen.
