St. John Bosco Parish Bulletin Letter for July 3, 2016

This is the parish bulletin letter to run this Sunday, the day before Independence Day.

Tomorrow is Independence Day here in the United States. In celebrating the 4th of July we remember the day in 1776 when the members of the Continental Congress voted to declare the 13 Colonies of Great Britain to be free and independent states, forming a new, sovereign nation. The Declaration of Independence, which they signed, proposed that the government's role was to ensure the citizens the rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. These have been our nation’s guiding principles for the last 240 years. 

Patriotism is a virtue which celebrates the positive aspects of a nation's spirit. A country is bigger than its government, like as human beings we are not just a physical body, but we have a soul as well. These three principles, life liberty and the pursuit of happiness are like the soul that animates national body, giving it purpose and direction. We might be able to mention other ideals that are a part of our national spirit, but these are the three most fundamental aspects.

While there isn’t necessarily a conflict between being a Disciple of Christ and holding to the these patriotic ideals, there can be if we don’t understand what life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness should mean in light of the Gospel.

The right to life means respecting the dignity of human life from conception to natural death. It means caring for the sick and suffering, the immigrant and the disadvantaged. It’s treating everyone with dignity. Do we live that ideal right now as a nation?

Liberty allows us to perfect our God given gifts and abilities. Liberty is not just doing what we want to do, but being free to do what we should do in light of God’s call. Liberty makes us free for doing good - it’s not simply freedom from responsibility. As a culture, do we see liberty as first and foremost a call to responsibility and a charge to use our talents for fostering the common good?

The pursuit of happiness, which is related to liberty, is usually seen as the individual’s right to pursue material prosperity. But God calls us to blessedness. We are blessed when we know God as a friend, live His commandments, and faithfully fulfill the responsibilities of everyday life. Happiness is a passing thing. Happiness can be taken away, or we can feel unhappy if we don’t get what we want. But being blessed is a spiritual reality not tied to our material condition. St. Francis of Assisi had no material possessions beyond the cloths on his back, yet he was exceedingly blessed by God. While we should have the right to pursue material wealth for ourselves and our family, we should know that this kind of happiness is very limited and passing. God calls us to something greater – He is calling us to seek His blessing.

As we celebrate Independence Day, let us also meditate on what our national values are, and how we as Disciples can better perfect them in the light of the Gospel.