June 22, 2025
In two weeks we will celebrate July 4th! Do we call ourselves American Catholics? Or Catholic Americans? Can we place the cart before the horse, properly? Our birth certificate, if we were born in this country, makes us citizens of the USA. When we were baptized, we became citizens of heaven. By this logic, we are, first of all, United States citizens.
Faith defies logic. This faith comes before the Declaration of Independence. Thank God, this document reflects what we believe. The Declaration states America’s “great principles of political freedom and natural justice.” These words were spoken by Fredrick Douglass. He said them on July 5th, 1776.
He also emphasized the gap between America’s creed and her practice. The great sin, the evil of slavery, made America “false” to herself. At Mass, we remind ourselves individually how we are false to ourselves whenever we sin. “Lord, I am not worthy.” The Eucharist and Confession restore the innocence of our white baptismal garment.
A young person told the Bishop of Brownsville, Texas, Daniel Flores, that the Church must get with the program. She must update so people would be more at home. The bishop suggested the young man read once again the Sermon on the Mount. No one reading this declaration would suggest Jesus should “get with the program.”
On June 26th, 2003, I became a citizen of the United States. All it took was to raise my right hand and swear allegiance. On June 8th, 1952, I leapt into Christ’s death. I rose with him as a “new creature.” So, what comes first? Obviously, our faith in Christ.
I remember you at Mass!
