Homily Fourteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time (4th of July) “Who is a True Patriot”
Homily Fourteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time (4th of July) “Who is a True Patriot”
Jesus speaks about a yoke that he wants us to shoulder. We are very much aware on this 4th of July that there is more unrest in our country that there has been for decades. Some of our citizens feel like the yoke that they wear as citizens of the United States is oppressive one. Some feel like they can’t breathe as they live their lives in our society. Are they less patriotic if they feel that way? Does our Catholic tradition have anything to say about our present situation?
In Catholic tradition patriotism is looked upon as being a good thing. People should love the place where they are from because in is the land of their birth. When we grow up in a community there are certain benefits. Perhaps there are material blessings like a good education, safe streets, the necessities of life. But more importantly we are probably taught certain values that we carry with us the rest of our lives like charity and honesty.
People should love the country where they come from because it is the land of their ancestors. Our homeland is usually the place where our parents and grandparents have earned their living and passed that wealth on to us. Maybe when we go home, we visit the graves of our relatives. We have a sense of rootedness. We see where we are from.
We should love our homeland because of those who come after us. We want our country to be a place where our children can be safe and healthy. We don’t want to pass on to our children a land of depleted resources. We want our prodigy to have security. We like to think that we haven’t used up our homeland but have built it up.
Thomas Aquinas said once in his writings that we owe a debt to our parents and to our community because they made us who we are. John Paul II used patriotism to unite his country in the 1980’s when there was a struggle to overthrow an oppressive government. When he spoke of the love Poland communists and those who wanted democracy both felt found common ground which led to non-violent change. Opposing forces reconciled out of a common love of the homeland.
Pride in country can be healthy or it can be unhealthy. Unhealthy pride is said to be the original sin of humanity. What is a healthy patriotism? Healthy patriotism is seeking God’s will for the nation in all matters.
Unhealthy patriotism does not seek God’s will in everything. No, it conveniently chooses matters it will consult God about. If the tenants of Christianity disagree with what rulers might want for, then a secular argument is developed that will justify a course of action. Out of that feeling the mentality develops which says, “My country right or wrong. Love it or leave it.”
A healthy patriotism looks truthfully at the sins of the nation seeking to correct them. In the case of the United States a truly patriotic person would admit that 15 million children living in poverty is a scandal. Abortion on demand is an embarrassment. Rampant pornography is a sickness. And giving 1 % of our annual income to the poor around the world is pretty selfish. The list of things that our country needs to change is as long as her list of virtues. Acknowledging both denotes healthy patriotism.
As we move toward a hotly contested election. We should ask some questions directly related to patriotism like:
Who are “we the people?” Does this denote an elite group? Or is this everyone? We cannot claim to love our country if we don’t follow the principle of solidarity. As Americans we believe in the dignity of all.
We must ask what is great about America? Does our greatness flow from the fact that are the most powerful of nations, from our wealth, from our many successes? Or does it flow from standing for justice, freedom, truth and concern for the good of all.
Finally, we must ask if we are interested in the international common good. Or, are we only interested in what is good for the United States of America?
Fr. Daniel Berrigan was a social justice advocate. He was an irritating prophet. Because he was, he was a controversial figure. But he asked the question we should struggle with. Are we American Catholics or are we Catholic Americans? What comes first? Does following the Gospel of Jesus? If that is so, then we believe patriotism is about lifting unjust burdens off the necks of those who are oppressed.
Reflection Questions:
1. Do I feel pressured to conform to a certain type of patriotism? What do I believe patriotism is about?
2. Do I believe our nation should enjoy more privileges than other nations? Why or why not?
Dear Parishioners,
During the next few weeks, we will be celebrating the sacraments of initiation. We will try to make the celebrations as meaningful as possible, but we must try to pray together as safely as we can.
Recent medical studies have shown that children are not at a high risk for serious illness if they are generally healthy and are infected. Others, on the other hand, become more vulnerable as we get older. Those 65 and older are especially at risk and need to be vigilant. I know that grandparents, aunts and uncles, and others would like to see their loved ones receive sacraments, but it would seem prudent to watch from afar.
We will try to livestream the various sacramental celebrations that are coming up in the next few weeks. We are slowly getting to the point where we are getting a good quality picture and sound. Mike Maynard has been like a bulldog with his efforts provide a quality broadcast. Please thank him. He has spent numerous hours working to get this right.
I would recommend that guests for First Communion and Confirmation be limited to those who live in the household of the child. We will try to ensure that households remain at a physical distance from each other. With the virus becoming ever more contagious in our area. That would seem like the prudent thing to do.
May Our Lady and All the Angels and Saints watch over you today.
Fr. Mark