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: Acts 14:5-18 John 14:21-26 Reflection: In today’s passage from the Acts of the Apostles we see Barnabas and Paul in a ticklish situation. After seeing a lame man walk, » Continue Reading.
Scripture: Acts 13:26-33 John 14:1-6 Reflection: "There’s always room for one more" sums up my father’s generous spirit. While some friends think this refers amusingly to the nine children my » Continue Reading.
Scripture: 1 Peter 5:5b-14 Mark 16:15-20 Reflection: Mark’s gospel is the oldest and the shortest of the four gospels. It was probably written in Rome for a Gentile community of » Continue Reading.
Scripture: Acts 11:19-26 John 10:22-30 Reflection: In our first reading from Acts, Luke tells us that "it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians." What does it » Continue Reading.
Scripture: Acts 11:1-18 John 10:1-10 Reflection: ‘John baptized with water but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ Acts 11: 16 The first time I heard about baptism in » Continue Reading.
Scripture: Acts 13:14, 43-52 Revelation 7:9, 14b-17 John 10:27-30 Reflection: Mary Tallchief was a famous ballerina, recently deceased, noteworthy for her achievement, given her background as a Native American: a » Continue Reading.
Scripture: Acts 9:31-42 John 6:60-69 Reflection: In the First Reading today, Peter heals the sick and raises Dorcas from the dead. I wonder what Peter’s thoughts were when miracles started » Continue Reading.
Scripture: Acts 9:1-20 John 6:52-59 Reflection: "So Ananias went and entered the house, laying his hands on him; he said, "Saul, my brother, the Lord has sent me, Jesus who » Continue Reading.
Scripture: Acts 8:26-40 John 6:44-51 Reflection: In the early 19th century, Rev. Dr. John Scudder, missionary and physician, was the first medical missionary in India. He became convinced that he » Continue Reading.
Scripture: Acts 8:1b-8 John 6:35-40 Reflection: "Play it again, Sam" (from the film, Casablanca) aptly describes the representation of events we hear about in our bible readings for today’s eucharist: » Continue Reading.