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.