Daily Scripture, July 4, 2025
Scripture:
Genesis 23:1-4,19; 24:1-8,62-67
Mathew 9:9-13
Reflection:
Celebrating U.S.A. Independence Day
Today, the liturgical guidelines encourage us in the United States to pray special prayers for Independence Day, and to choose from a variety of Scripture selections related to “public needs” and “social justice”.
Interestingly, the “regular” readings provide insights into the lives of Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah, Jesus and Matthew and the Pharisees. Each had a special role in Salvation History – Jesus enfleshing God’s redemptive love for all humanity, even in their weakness. We are each called to cooperate with God’s will for us in our day and age, in a world filled with both countless blessings and serious challenges. God’s call is real, personable, encouraging — and liberating!!
The optional readings chosen for Independence Day highlight a similar dimension in our American heritage and our mission: to cultivate and live peace. Isaiah calls out for peace, especially for those struggling or dejected in spirit; St. Paul, writing to the Philippians, reminds us to have no anxiety, but rather to daily turn to God in prayer for our personal and communal needs. Jesus at the Last Supper encourages his disciples, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you…don’t let your hearts be troubled…”. Thus, we recall God’s many gifts, celebrating and encouraging one another as 21st Century citizens!
Jesus gives us His peace, which is much more than the experience of deep tranquility or the absence of suffering or uncertainty. He offers His peace that comes from the experience that God is with us, here and now, in all things and with all peoples — loving us unconditionally. As contemporary disciples, we look to the Cross of Jesus, seeking peace and freedom from our hectic pace of life, our uncertainties, our personal and communal suffering — and even the fear, the violence and death which are part of our culture. The unconditional love of Jesus showers each of us with His peace, with a sense of presence, freedom and redemption that transforms the challenges of each day into blessings for today and tomorrow…just as happened for the holy women and men of long ago.
May today’s celebration of the United States’ “independence” help us be grateful and then share our God-given blessings with all people! In Jesus, may we live in fruitful peace with our sisters and brothers worldwide.
Fr. John Schork, CP, serves as the Province Vocation Director and also as Local Superior of the Passionist Community of Holy Name in Houston, Texas.
Scripture: Exodus 3:13-20 Matthew 11:28-30 Reflection: “Come to me…you will find rest for your souls…my yoke is easy” We are pilgrims on a journey, alone and together – pilgrims heading » Continue Reading.
Scripture: Exodus 2:1-15a Matthew 11:20-24 Reflection: The disciples of Jesus have just returned from their missionary successes. Jesus is disappointed that some of the villages did not accept the Gospel » Continue Reading.
Scripture: Exodus 1:8-14, 22 Matthew 10:34-11:1 Reflection: Today’s Gospel reading from the 10th Chapter of Matthew can be very challenging to us as mere mortals. Looking through the lens of » Continue Reading.
Scripture: Deuteronomy 30:10-14 Colossians 1:15-20 Luke 10:25-37 Reflection: How much time have I, and we as a people, spent searching, questioning and debating God’s will? Why does it seem so » Continue Reading.
Scripture: Genesis 49:29-32; 50:15-26a Matthew 10:24-33 Reflection: Earlier this week, our granddaughter, Cate, came back from a bike ride with her grandpa, in tears. While on the ride she saw » Continue Reading.
Scripture: Genesis 44:18-21, 23b-29; 45:1-5 Matthew 10:7-10 Reflection: “Without cost you have received; without cost you are give.” (Mt 10:8) To understand today’s gospel, we must first place it in » Continue Reading.
Scripture: Genesis 41:55-57; 42:5-7a, 17-24a Matthew 10:1-7 Reflection: There are many in the Church today who feel that sinners should be banned from the Eucharistic table. Similarly, there are many » Continue Reading.
Scripture: Genesis 32:23-33 Matthew 9:32-38 Reflection: The Patriarchs – Always Interesting Family Dynamics The story of the Patriarchs in Genesis is fascinating. They are challenging, ancient stories told many times » Continue Reading.
Scripture: Isaiah 66:10-14c Galatians 6:14-18 Luke 10:1-12, 17-20 Reflection: Some time ago, I sat in a meeting of vital importance to the attendees, where a young mother nursed her baby. » Continue Reading.
Scripture: Genesis 27:1-5, 15-29 Matthew 9:14-17 Reflection: The ardent disciples of John the Baptist were confused by the casual ways of the followers of Jesus. Jewish spiritual traditions rested on » Continue Reading.