“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest…”
On the 4th of July, Americans celebrate the gift of freedom which we believe is a gift from God,
a gift which many Americans have died to protect. Many countries around the world like to
speak of rights and freedoms, but perhaps only in the USA is it truly, in actual fact, a land of
opportunity. I have lived in a few countries, and the more I travel the more I realize the
United States of America must be a gift from God where anyone can come and seek life,
liberty, and the pursuit of happiness in a singularly unique way.
We therefore owe the Lord Jesus Christ our gratitude, who died on the cross that we might
be set free from sin. The most holy Eucharist is not only a sacrifice of expiation but one
of gratitude, and how appropriate we should thank God for our country through the sacred
liturgy. We should be grateful to all our troops who have served, and some have even given
the very high cost of their lives, dying to protect our freedom.
On this Independence Day weekend, we reflect upon the great gift of freedom God has
bestowed upon our country and we take time to say, “Thank you, Lord, for allowing us to
be free. May we always cherish this gift of freedom and never take it for granted. May we
make responsible decisions, decisions that will reflect our love for you and all your
creation. May we continue to work for peace and justice, not just here in our own land but
for all people throughout the world. You created us and we know that we are brother and
sister to each other. Help us to treat one another accordingly. Amen.”
Happy 4th of July 2020
Fr. Shafique Masih
St. Mary, Cause of Our Joy Catholic Church 