July is here with cookouts and fireworks! We celebrate independence and freedom and are thankful for the liberties we have. Each year as I celebrate the beginnings of our nation, I also remember the freedom that we have in Jesus Christ. But I recognize both of those freedoms came with a price and a response-ability. God sent Jesus to earth to demonstrate God’s enormous love for each of us. In our baptismal vows we promise to recognize the love of God in Christ and also we accept the power Christ’s presence in our lives gives us to resist evil, injustice and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves.
When we celebrate our freedom in Christ and our freedom in America, we can rejoice, but we also need to pay attention to the people around us. To keep our eyes, ears and hearts open for places of injustice and oppression.
Just as Jesus encountered each person he met with compassion, listening to their situations and providing presence and often healing for them, so we too have the opportunity to be Christ’s presence in the lives of our neighbors, our co-workers, our family, and our friends. Each day we can both receive God’s love (because it is there for us) and also offer that same love around us.
It is not always easy to take a good look around and see whose voices are being squashed or who might be needing a leg up or a helping hand. I often want to look the other way when encountering people in hard situations because the answers are not easy and most of the time require more than just my passing prayers or a few dollars given. And yet, all the “isms” will persist if we don’t take the initiative and get involved.
So this year as you celebrate, commit to some time in reflection over a freedom or justice cause that you might learn more about or become involved in. And then let me know! I’d love to swap stories with you of how we might encourage one another in our disciple walk of claiming the power that Christ gives each one of us!
Blessings and Peace,
Katherine