God is the source of our freedom
'For your mercy is before my eyes, and I walk in your truth.'
By Norm McGraw
Not only Christians, but also other religious denominations believe this. The official Catholic Catechism states that Jews were “the first to hear the word of God” * in their covenant with Him revealed in the Old Testament. The catechism also describes Muslims as “those who acknowledge the Creator.” **
Tuesday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Genesis 19:15-29
Matthew 8:23-27
It’s my yearly practice every 4th of July to begin that day by reading the Declaration of Independence. This year, as with every year, the meaning of the words beginning the 2nd paragraph moves me to my soul. “We hold these TRUTHS to be SELF-EVIDENT, that all men are created EQUAL, that they are ENDOWED by their CREATOR with certain UNALIENABLE RIGHTS, that among these are LIFE, LIBERTY, and the pursuit of HAPPINESS.”
The founders of our country felt not only that we owe our very being, but all that we want to accomplish in our lives here on earth, to the majesty and mercy of an eternal God. Not only Christians, but also other religious denominations believe this. The official Catholic Catechism states that Jews were “the first to hear the word of God” * in their covenant with Him revealed in the Old Testament. The catechism also describes Muslims as “those who acknowledge the Creator.” **
Following God’s Word is a path to accepting His infinite mercy and His power. Defying it opens us up to punishment. The readings for July 1st are examples of this.
The responsorial hymn (Psalm 26:2-3) clearly says, “O Lord, your mercy is before my eyes… For your mercy is before my eyes, and I walk in your truth.”
The first reading, from the 19th chapter of the book of Genesis, describes the consequences of rejecting God's word. Previously in Genesis, God established his covenant, graced in His love and mercy with Abraham and his offspring. Abraham’s nephew, Lot, and his family lived in Sodom, where the people rejected God’s word. Although God stated “the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great and their sin is very grave” in the 18th chapter, through the intercession of Abraham, He spares Lot and his family (except his wife) from the destruction of the city in the 19th chapter. Lot’s wife disobeys God’s command not to look back at the city’s destruction. As a result, she turns into salt.
The 2nd reading, from the 8th chapter of the gospel of St. Matthew, also describes the power of God’s majesty, but none of the consequences are as dire as Sodom and Gomorrah. After a series of miraculous healings witnessed by his disciples, Jesus travels in a boat with them, where they encounter “a great storm on the sea.” Fearing for their lives, they ask for his help. He responded by remarking, “Why are you terrified, O you of little faith?” He calms the seas, and they are amazed at the power of the Son of God.
As we approach the two hundred and fiftieth year of the existence of our country, we should take stock of the reason why we love her. The Founders recognized that God is the source of our freedom, our dreams, and our very being. Again, to quote the psalm: “I walk in your (God’s) truth.”