This coming Saturday, we celebrate the Fourth of July, Independence Day. On this day, we celebrate the birth of our nation, and we are encouraged to cherish in a very special way the many freedoms we enjoy in this country. We are blessed to enjoy these freedoms, and they should never be taken for granted. Unfortunately, there are those in our society who are attempting to undermine our trust and belief in God, and in the process are distorting our precious freedoms.
As previously noted, on our money bills we proclaim “In God We Trust.” As disciples, and as citizens, we are invited to pray that this trust in God may be restored in our nation by our leaders. Our bishops remind us that there is a need to strengthen the moral foundation of our country, a moral foundation based on faith and trust in the Lord. There is also a need to reaffirm our commitment to truly make our country “one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”
As we know, we live in difficult and challenging times. There is uncertainty in our world due primarily to wars in Ukraine, Israel, and Iran. There is also much division and conflict in our nation due primarily to a rise in crime and illegal drugs, and concerns over our immigration policies. Much of this division and conflict is reported in our various media outlets on a daily basis. We also live in a society which over the years has become more secular in its orientation, placing some of our religious freedoms at risk.
The following prayer called “A Prayer for National Unity on Independence Day” encourages us to find unity in purpose and to appreciate our freedoms:
Dear Heavenly Father,
on this day of Independence, I lift our nation to You.
I pray for unity among all people,
regardless of race, creed, or background.
Bind up together with cords of love and understanding,
and heal the divisions that have separated us.
May we celebrate freedom not only in words
but in deeds that honor justice, equality, and peace.
Strengthen our leaders to govern with wisdom and integrity.
Help us all to cherish the liberties we enjoy and to protect them vigilantly.
Let the spirit of freedom inspire us to build a nation
that reflects Your righteousness and grace.
Amen.
As we reflect on this prayer and celebrate Independence Day, we are encouraged to take time to truly appreciate our faith and freedoms and to be thankful for the many blessings the Lord has bestowed on us and our nation.