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| Jesus Invites us: "Come to Me." |
So, we pray: God bless America so we may increasingly be, and long remain, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
In the Gospel according to Matthew, Jesus invites us, “Come to me.” He calls us to open our hearts to God and to our fellow human beings by giving God praise and worship; by being generous, by forgiving those who have wronged us, by caring. That’s why we gather in liturgy: to open our hearts.
The word of God first takes us back to the sixth century before Jesus. Zechariah speaks about a messianic leader who will usher in a new era of peace, justice and prosperity. He challenges us to always hope in God. Many philosophers argue that hope is a fundamental characteristic of human life. Think about it.
St. Paul in his letter to the Christian community at Rome speaks about the Spirit of God dwelling within us. We are living temples of God. The Spirit empowers us to live a life of integrity, courage, compassion and faith.
In the Gospel according to Matthew, Jesus begins with a prayer of praise. Then he invites us to enter his triune life: “Come to me, all you who find life burdensome and I will refresh you.”
Yes, when we begin to think life is empty, or heavy-laden, Jesus is there to fill our emptiness, to lighten our burdens. He is our true wisdom, the image of the God we cannot see, our guide, our good news and our provider.
God has bestowed the gifts of the Spirit in the life-giving waters of baptism: wisdom (to recognize what truly matters), intelligence (to discern what's true), courage, compassion, good judgment, and wonder and awe. Yes, Jesus will guide us to our true destiny.
The word “gospel” means “good news.” In a world that desperately needs good news, Jesus Christ lives and because he lives, we live. The good news of Jesus is dynamically relevant to all generations, cultures and situations. People’s basic needs are always the same. The message of the gospel is always the same. Set aside regular time to contemplate the scriptures.
Ultimately, Jesus taught us to pray. “Give us this day our daily bread...” God will provide all we need. If we give generously, we will discover that we cannot out-give God, who will do amazing things for and through us.
This doesn't mean life will be easy. Yet, Jesus is indeed our wisdom who guides us, brings us good news and provides for us so that we can become the best version of ourselves: with eternal life, liberty and justice, and the pursuit of true happiness.
Have a happy and safe Independence Day weekend.
