July 2 - Choosing Independence

Dear Friends in Christ -

Today is July 2nd. It's not the day that Canada celebrates Independence Day - that's July 1st. It's not the day that the US celebrates Independence Day - that's July 4th. But July 2nd is a special day - it's the day that our Founding Fathers in the Continental Congress voted that the "united States of America" would be independent from the British Crown. July 2nd is a day that marks our choice as a people "under God" to live in a way that reflects our rights ("Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness") and values ("all men are created equal").

So how are we managing this heritage of independence? As I read through the Declaration of Independence this week, I noticed one of the grievances the Founding Fathers had against the Brits: the Crown obstructed immigration. Of course, the States needed immigrants to help fight the British and build a nation. The Founding Fathers were angry that the Crown was standing in the way of freedom - the freedom of the immigrants to go where they desired to go, the freedom of the States to become all that they could be.

Ironically, we now fight among ourselves about the issue of immigration: do "we" (those of us whose ancestors immigrated decades or centuries ago) need help from immigrants? How should "we" treat those who cross the borders of our country to work, to live, to help our farms and industries, to help themselves?

The Gospel lesson appointed for this day (Matthew 5:43-48) asks us hard questions and reminds us of Christ's call to us, his followers: "For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect."

As Christians, we are called to do more than argue points and take sides in legal debates over immigration law and walls at the border. We are called to love everyone and to help create not only a land, but also a world, in which there is freedom and justice for all. Whether or not this sounds utopian to our ears, it's what our Lord asks of us - and what we committed to doing in our baptismal vows when we said that we would "strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the diginity of every human being."

When our Founding Fathers chose independence, it brought freedom to us. May our choosing independence bring freedom in this generation, and in generations to come.

Faithfully yours,
Janet+