PENTECOST VI

July 4, 2021

“With Liberty and Justice for All” 

“With what shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before God on high?      

He has told  you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you     

but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”     Micah 6:6a, 8    

“But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.”     Amos 5:24    

“For freedom Christ has set us free. . . . For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another.”  Galatians 5:1a, 13      

Celebrating Independence Day on a Sunday comes around regularly, and it’s an excellent opportunity to look at the ways our Christian freedoms and responsibilities interconnect with many of the ideals and principles that we hold dear as citizens.  When the United States celebrated its Bicentennial in 1976, July 4 fell on a Sunday, and our family went to church here at St. Andrew in a celebratory mood.  Pastor Jim Lesher wore a robe and collar of the style worn in the 18th century, we sang historically appropriate hymns, and he preached a sermon by a Lutheran pastor of that era.  We felt rooted, connected, and part of the history of both our church and our country, and our Bicentennial events took on greater depth and quality.     

Every time we say the Pledge of Allegiance, we close with an idealistic phrase, “with liberty and justice for all.”  Achieving justice for all people appears to be a dim hope on a far horizon, whether in our communities, our country, or around the world.  In part, thanks to the never-ending news cycles, we hear of injustice and repression from every corner of the earth.  This struggle is as old as time, and connects all people and all generations.     But take a look at the quotes from the prophets Micah and Amos.  These prophets of Old Testament times were calling out for justice, telling their listeners that practicing justice, kindness and humility was pleasing to God.  In Hebrew, “justice” is about fairness and equality, while “kindness” describes merciful actions such as loyalty and integrity.  Through the imagery of flowing waters of justice and righteousness, Amos is suggesting that God’s justice cannot be separated from his love, restoring us to wholeness.       

Paul’s Letter to the Galatians clearly and concisely speaks of the paradox of Christian freedom.  Yes, we are freed from the constraints of the Law, but we are now called through the Gospel to new lives.  Rather than required, we have the freedom to, as Paul describes it, become slaves to one another through love.  In some ways, it sounds as though Paul is playing word games — after all, one definition of enslavement is to be without any freedom.  But as we are empowered through Christ to serve others, we fulfill our calling, and the light of Christ’s love shows in all that we do.   

Blessed to be living in freedom,

Your friend in Christ,

Mary Rogers

Note:  Definitions of the Hebrew words in Micah and Amos are from the Lutheran Study Bible.