Homily Independence Day 1 Tim 6:6-19; Matt 22:15-21

Few people could reasonably argue that we are not immensely blessed by what we celebrate today – life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, in a country committed to the civil rights and freedoms of its citizens, where opportunities still abound for folks to make their hopes and dreams come true.

Sometimes we can take what we have in this country for granted ... and I’m talking about the basics – decent infrastructure, electric power, indoor plumbing, fresh water, an adequate food supply, etc.

It wasn’t until I went abroad for the first time in college to Medugorje, and felt as if I had traveled not only in physical space, but in time, back to the Middle Ages, that I fully realized how fortunate I was, to be an American living in the U.S.

With our freedom, and the many blessings God has showered upon us, comes real responsibility. Remember that challenging, if not unnerving line from the gospel when Jesus said, “Much will be expected to the one entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the one entrusted with more.”

So we need to use the freedom we have in this country, not only to secure our own success, but to speak, think and act in ways that promote the common good, to secure what is right and just for all. It’s not easy to presume to speak and act for the common good, but we can do so confidently and courageously, if guided by the light of Christ.

Doing so means placing ourselves where most Christians have been for the last 2000 years … swimming against the tide of contemporary culture … criticized, maligned, or worse … for refusing to compromise God’s Gospel for the sake of Man’s convenience, or his misguided sense of freedom, truth, or goodness.

It’s not a comfortable place to be … but how comfortable does he look up there on that wall behind me? Remember what he said to those who would be his disciples. If you wish to come after me, you must deny yourself, pick up your cross daily, and follow me.

Rev. Michael G. Cambi 1 July 4th, 2014 So I encourage you again this year as we celebrate our freedom, don’t be afraid to use your freedom to risk a little awkwardness, discomfort, or the outright disdain and ire of your fellow citizens to speak up and out, on the issues of the day. That those same issues are debated among politicians, does not exclude us from the debate.

This is especially true when the issues involve what is true and beautiful about human life in this world. In fact, as faithful Christians, it is our duty to speak up for the gospel truth, whenever it is threatened, distorted, or denied, by any person, group, or institution.

St. Paul tells us in our pursuit of righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience and gentleness, we must tell the rich not to rely on their wealth, but to rely on God, and to be rich in good works, in order to store up treasure in heaven.

In the same way, we should tell the powerful not to rely on their power, the prestigious not to rely on their prestige, and politicians not to rely on their popularity, but to use their strengths to serve the common good, with an eye especially toward meeting the needs of the marginalized and downtrodden.

Jesus’ command to repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God, is a command to fulfill our duty to be responsible citizens, to obey the law, and to be respectful of civil leaders. But … we live in a world where civil laws and civil leaders might ask us for respect and responsibilities that contradict what we owe to God.

And what we owe to God infinitely trumps what we owe to country or government, and our responsibility to preach the gospel by word and deed infinitely trumps what some might suggest is our duty to be politically correct.

Where conflicts arise, you know where your allegiance lies … to the one who gave up his life in protest of political correctness, and in proclamation of the way, the truth, and the life, that God ordained for humanity.

The United States bishops wrote a condensed version of the catechism for adults that was published eight years ago. I want to share what they said about these issues in the section on living the Christian moral life. This comes from a chapter on the family and its relationship to society at large.

Rev. Michael G. Cambi 2 July 4th, 2014 “Civic authorities should defend and protect the family as created by God and based on the permanent and exclusive union of a man and a woman in marriage. The first obligation of civil authorities is to establish laws that reflect and protect the moral order.

If the governing authority attempts to impose a law contrary to the moral order, then the citizens have a moral obligation to seek to try to change the law. If that fails, they should refuse to obey such a law.

The Church, too, (and I’ll remind you brothers and sisters, that we are the Church, each of us unique members of the One Body of Christ) has the mission and obligation to critique and challenge any civil laws, societal organizations, or political structures that infringe upon or deny the fundamental rights of human persons and communities.

Jesus spoke of the difference between serving God and the state when he said, ‘Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and to God what belongs to God. Catholics have the DUTY to vote, to participate in the political arena, and to help shape society in the light of Catholic teaching.’”

I’ll close again this year with what are steadily becoming the timeless words of Archbishop William Lori. “Now we must be loyal Americans by being bold and courageous Catholics. Let us be of good cheer. Let us never imagine the faith we profess with such personal conviction is merely a private matter. By its nature, the profession of faith is a public matter.

It is meant to be spread far and wide, and acted upon in and through the Church and in the witness of individual believers. Let us not shrink from entering the public square to proclaim the person of Christ …

… to teach the values that flow from faith and reason; to uphold our right to go about our daily work in accord with our teachings and values; to defend the sanctity of human life from the moment of conception to natural death; to defend the institution of marriage as between a man and a woman; and to serve effectively those in great need, with convictions borne of the moral law.”

God bless America always, and may he grant us the grace to remain one nation under his will and providence, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Rev. Michael G. Cambi 3 July 4th, 2014