We Americans live in a world of milk and honey made up of hamburgers, baseball, and apple pies. Sadly, even when we live in a world full of such riches and opportunity, we can’t seem to have enough.
Sure, times aren’t as good as they have been in the past for many of us, but we are still a very blessed nation. We live in a world of excess and surplus even when we’re in deficit. Yes, we have some that are not as fortunate as those of us reading this on tablets, laptops, or mobiles in our “free time.” Some Americans are struggling to get by, but even our homeless have better access to regular meals than some average citizens from other countries.
I could go on about many different issues that come from our American culture because we are as equally troubled as we are blessed. For now, I hope that we take this 4th of July to take time to be grateful. I hope you take time to be grateful for living in a country with good hygiene and indoor plumbing, and grateful for a country where food is not lacking and good medicines are available. Even with all the work that there is to be done on many issues, we have come a long way from the day that star spangled banner was first flown.
We have a right to feel as entitled as we often feel; it’s more than our American prerogative. We Christians are a people of God that wait to enter heaven, a place of perfection. We just need to remember that only God will satisfy, and we should never expect this world to do so. As we wait for His return, I hope we can stop wasting so much energy when we are dissatisfied when we do not get perfect traffic, fast running computers, no lines, and fast service when we want it. We are a parched people that thirst for His glory.
In a time of war, most of us can go a while without really taking time to remember to pray for our brave military that are deployed. Our world is not deeply affected by it because we do not see the death and destruction around us. Behind a screen, it’s often as real as a movie to us, but it was our veterans that have ensured our worldly freedom. We thank you for your service.
Today, let’s pray for our troops and all that have given their lives so that we can live in such a great country. Let us pray for peace so that we will no longer need to be at war. Let us pray for religious freedom in the world so that others may freely worship as Catholics like we do. Let us pray that God may continue to bless our great nation.
