God’s blessings! As we celebrate Independence Day this weekend may we be thankful for our freedom and our liberty, and may we not take it for granted. May we never forget that our true freedom comes from our loving God, who is deeply in love with each one of us.
Our Psalm this weekend speaks of our loving God: “The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and of great kindness. The Lord is good to all and compassionate toward all his works.” It goes on, “The Lord is faithful in all his words and holy in all his works. The Lord lifts up all who are falling and raised up all who are bowed down.” It is wonderful to know that God is with us throughout all of our challenges and blessings.
Our first reading from the Prophet Zechariah tells us, “Rejoice heartily … and shout for joy.” Zechariah sees a “just savior” coming, who will “proclaim peace to the nations,” and whose “dominion shall be from sea to sea.” In the midst of the virus pandemic and the rioting and looting in some of our nation’s city streets, it may not be as evident, but God’s presence is everywhere, holding us together.
There are glimmers of hope as God’s people use their ingenuity and creativity to deal with problems. For example, when the Oakridge Gardens Care Facility in Menasha had a recent fire causing all residents to leave on short notice, other area care facilities,
notably including Kaukauna’s St. Paul Elder Services, were able to treat those residents with dignity and absorb them into their operations. Kudos to everyone involved, in assisting some of the most vulnerable among us. The Holy Spirit is alive and active, and as St. Paul wrote to the Romans, “You are in the Spirit.”
If you are feeling particularly challenged right now, for any number of reasons, please try to adhere to what Jesus says in the Gospel from Matthew, “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.”
May we continue to pray for the pandemic to end and for the most vulnerable among us - our elders, people with disabilities or major health issues, for the unborn, and for women dealing with a crisis-pregnancy.
May we pray for and support our police, firefighters and EMT’s as they protect our public safety. May we pray for our service men and women to help us maintain peace. May we pray for the people on the front lines of health care, and for all caregivers as they tend to people in all walks of life.
Like our gracious Lord, let’s be compassionate and kind to one another. As we continue to enjoy our return to public Masses, and experience the freedom to receive Jesus in the Eucharist, may the peace of Christ truly reign in our hearts. For those who are not yet joining us physically at Mass, know that we are with each other, in Spirit.
-Deacon Steve
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