Independence Day [In Dioceses of the United States]
Alternate Texts may be taken from the Masses for Various Needs and Occasions, II. For Civil Needs: 13. For the Nation, nos. 882-886; or 14. For Peace and Justice, nos. 887-891.
(Optional Memorial for Saint Elizabeth of Portugal) *
* In the United States, this memorial is perpetually transferred to July 5th.
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| “Pigs Rush To the Sea” by James Tissot, 1886-96 |
Commentary:
Reading 1: Amos 5:14-15, 21-24
Commentary on Am 5:14-15, 21-24
The Prophet continues his pronouncement of “Woes to Israel” with what is called the "Third Word." “The Lord condemns, not ritual worship in itself, but the cult whose exterior rites and solemnity have no relation to interior morality and justice. The Israelites falsely worshiped him as neighboring nations adored Baal or Chamos, deities which were thought to protect their respective peoples against their enemies in return for ritual observances, without any relation to right conduct.” [4]
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 50:7, 8-9, 10-11, 12-13, 16bc-17
R. (23b) To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
“Hear, my people, and I will speak;
Israel, I will testify against you;
God, your God, am I.”
R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
Commentary on Ps 50:7, 8-9, 10-11, 12-13, 16bc-17
Psalm 50 is a “covenant lawsuit” that is a lament against those who have violated God’s law, and the covenant made with the Lord upon which it was based. Echoing the charges leveled against Israel by the prophet Amos (Amos 5:14ff), the psalmist condemns empty ritual and sacrifice that is not reflective of external actions and internal faith.
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Gospel: Matthew 8:28-34
Commentary on Mt 8:28-34
Jesus comes to a region about five miles southeast of the Sea of Galilee and encounters the two demoniacs (people taken over by demons). He drives the demons out into a herd of swine. The symbolism here for the Jewish audience would be powerful, as swine were unclean animals. By casting themselves into the sea, they showed that even they preferred death to the presence of evil. The gentile population, probably very superstitious, was afraid of Christ’s power over evil and did not want any more damage as a result of his presence.
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Reflection:
At the risk of offending some of the “flock,” we focus our attention today on the plight of the swine from the Gospel story, and ironically identify with them. In St. Matthew’s Gospel we see great symbolism as Jesus casts out evil. He identifies it, masters it, and removes if from its human hosts. The swine, now burdened with this evil choose to kill themselves rather than endure the evil that befalls them. In ironic symbolism (given the secular holiday) they say: “Give me liberty or give me death” (being swine, animals without souls, their suicide cannot be interpreted as sin). However what they have done is clearly a message to us that forces threatening our personal liberty cannot be tolerated.
As a church we have just concluded what our Bishops have called “Fortnight for Freedom.” When the Supreme Court upheld the Affordable Health Care Act in 2012, it also upheld the HHS Mandate that is repugnant to Catholics. It is repugnant, not because it continues to allow the use of medical procedures and drugs that we find morally objectionable. Rather it is repugnant because we, who find these contraceptive, sterilization, and abortifacients morally reprehensible are going to be forced to pay for them and cover, through health insurance programs, their use by others. Fortunately the Supreme Court has found that closely held corporations (that is a majority of the company’s stock is held by 5 or fewer members) whose religious beliefs contradict the mandated coverage of contraceptive, sterilization, and abortifacients are not required to pay for them. There have been other court decisions supporting religious freedom but the attack on our beliefs is coming in many forms. In spite of attempts, legal and congressional, to remove these requirements, they are still in place for most Catholics, and we all pay for these provisions with our taxes.
As we approach the celebration of the birth of our nation, we find these attempts to erode religious freedom in our country abhorrent. We ask ourselves, if a mandate were announced stating that each person would have some small percent of their taxes sent to support the Catholic Church, would there not be a hue and cry about separation of church and state? We are reminded that the principle of the separation of church and state does not mean “removal of church from state.” It seems that understanding has been forgotten. We are guided by the Lord God and his Son, Jesus Christ; nothing can change that and the government cannot mandate it.
As the bishops have said and continue to say, we have a long hard fight against this blatant attempt to force the faithful members of the Church to violate their moral beliefs. As we approach Independence Day, we once more recall the great price paid for the freedoms we enjoy and call upon those whom we have elected to insure those liberties are not trampled upon.
Pax
[1] The picture today is: “Pigs Rush To the Sea” by James Tissot, 1886-96.
[4] See NAB footnote on Amos 5:21.
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