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.
Jesus in the Gospel invites us, “Come to me.” He calls us to open our hearts to God and to our fellow human beings. How? By giving God praise and worship; by being generous, by forgiving those who have wronged us, by caring for family, neighbors and colleagues. And that’s why we gather together in this liturgy: to open our hearts.
The word of God takes us back to the sixth century before Jesus. Ancient Babylonia destroyed Jerusalem. And yet, Zechariah speaks about the future, about a messianic leader who will usher in a new era of peace, justice and prosperity.
Zechariah challenges us to always hope in God. One twentieth century philosopher argues that hope is a fundamental characteristic of human life. Think about it. Hope looks for the good in people; discovers what can be done; lights candles; pushes ahead; opens doors; regards problems as opportunities; and carries on despite heartaches. Hope always remembers the words of Jesus: “you will have troubles, but take courage, I have conquered the world.”
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 within 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. Yes, Jesus is uniquely one with his heavenly Father. And then Jesus invites us to enter the life of the 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: whether they be broken relationships, illness or the death of a loved one, the loss of a job, whatever.
I’d like to reflect on Jesus as “our true wisdom who guides us, brings us good news and provides for us” in light of the Gospel invitation, “Come to me.”
The movie Lawrence of Arabia stemmed from the life of T. E. Lawrence: an archaeology scholar and military strategist. His memoir, written in 1926, is titled The Seven Pillars of Wisdom.
I would guess Lawrence had in mind the Book of Proverbs: “Wisdom has built her house; she has set up her seven columns.” In scripture, the number seven is often used to represent completion or perfection.
Jesus is our true wisdom, the image of the God we cannot see, our guide, our good news and our provider.
First, Jesus gives all the guidance we need. We have the Spirit dwelling within us. We are “led by the Spirit of God.” And God has bestowed the gifts of the Spirit upon us in the life-giving waters of baptism: wisdom (to recognize what truly matters), intelligence (to discern what's true), courage (to do what's right), compassion, good judgment, and wonder and awe (to worship the great God of this universe). Yes, Jesus will guide us to our true destiny.
Second, in a world that desperately needs good news, Jesus has provided it. The word “gospel” means “good news” It is about Jesus’s life, death, resurrection. Jesus Christ lives and because he lives, we live, especially through the sacramental life of his community of disciples, the church. Jesus Christ is indeed good news in a broken world that desperately needs it.
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. Study the good news. Set aside regular time to meditate on the scriptures.
And finally, Jesus taught us to pray. “Give us this day our daily bread...” Look to Jesus. He will provide all we need.
One of my favorite biblical narratives is the story of Elijah. He trusted in God's care for us. When the brook that provided water for Elijah dried up, God sent Elijah to a widow for food. The point is: when one door closes, God is about to open another door in our life. The widow replies that she and her son were about to eat their last meal. But Elijah promises that if she is generous, God will provide for her needs. He says, “The jar of flour shall not go empty, nor the jug of oil run dry, until the day when the Lord sends rain upon the earth.
The widow did exactly as Elijah asked. And it turned out exactly so. This woman of great faith was prepared to give all she had. And God supplied her needs. If we give generously, we will discover that we cannot out-give God. God will do amazing things for and through us. This doesn't mean life will be easy. The widow's son died; yet amazingly Elijah was able to pick the boy up and give him back, saying, “See, your son is alive!”
Yes, 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.
