7-4-22 - Independence - and Inter-dependence

You can listen to this reflection here.

This coming Sunday we get one of the most famous of all of Jesus’ parables, the one he tells in response to the lawyer who asks, “Who is my neighbor?” We’ll examine it in greater depth and in more personal terms in coming days. Today, as we celebrate America’s independence as a nation – and enjoy a day of rest and cook-outs – I will keep it short and more global. Let’s consider this story in light of our past, present and future as a nation “under God, with liberty and justice for all.”

In particular, let’s jump to the end of Jesus’ story, when he asks the lawyer, “Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy,”’ Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

We live in a world in which whole communities, even countries can fall into the hands of robbers. We share a history in which too often we have been the robbers. We also share a legacy of mercy and providing help to those who are injured.

How might we as a nation, and as individuals, more fully live into the character of this outsider who put himself at risk to reclaim, restore and renew the one fallen by the wayside? After all, that is what God has done for us. Might we “go and do likewise?”

At the heart of it lies the truth that until we are all free and equal in opportunity, security, and peace, none of us is free. Until we are willing to “respect the dignity of every human being,” as our baptismal covenant asks us to promise, we will let discord and mistrust rule us rather than the Law of Love. Just like all three of the passersby in Jesus’ story, each one of us has the choice when we see someone in pain – or a community or nation in the grip of tyranny – to stop or walk on, engage or condemn, bring healing or leave someone to die. How will we exercise the choices we do have?

Freedom is God's desire for us - and for all creation. Sometimes we have to be willing to be the outsider to set someone else free to thrive; to embrace our inter-dependence in order to celebrate our independence. Happy Independence Day.

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