When I came into the Faith, the gal to whom I was engaged (who later became my wife) was also my godmother, and my forthcoming father-in-law was my godfather. So my entry into Catholicism meant that — if I had questions — I got to “keep them in the family.” One question I had a number of years ago was as follows: Does the fact that I’m Christian mean that I’m better than other people?
My godfather paused a long time before answering. “I would say, ‘No.’ It means you have been given a great gift, but it also means you have great responsibilities.” His initial answer matched how my own thoughts were leaning, and — as we discussed it further — it led to some interesting reflections.
Being a Christian is a not a “get out of jail free” card. Unlike the way some of our Protestant friends treat the honor, it’s not even a “get out of Hell free” card.
I eventually likened “being a Christian” with “getting the best, most sure-fire directions possible to Heaven.” See, my sense of direction is absolutely terrible — I get lost a lot — so a good set of directions and/or a map is invaluable to me. Thus, if I’ve been handed that foolproof set of directions — a way of life and belief as proscribed by God — what’s the next step? Well, I need to follow those directions. It’s the act of following that makes directions useful; otherwise, I’m not a better person for having directions I don’t use . . . I’m significantly worse off, especially compared to others who don’t have directions!
All of this came to mind as I reflected on today’s readings. The first reading is from the Book of Amos. It’s taken from what my New American Bible helpfully labels as the “First Woe,” and it basically tells about how the people of Israel have gotten it wrong and really need to do better. “Seek good and not evil, that you may live; Then truly will the LORD, the God of hosts, be with you as you claim! Hate evil and love good, and let justice prevail at the gate . . .”
Now, this is targeted at the people of Israel. You might remember them as being “God’s chosen people.” Think about that title. “God’s chosen people”! How amazing is that?! If you’re chosen — by God, no less — then you’re home free, right? You can’t do any wrong?
But that’s not the case! That connection with God requires them to do better. The language in this reading — though lyrical and beautiful — is harsh and painful, especially if we consider the sentiment as coming from God: “I hate, I spurn your feasts, says the LORD, I take no pleasure in your solemnities; Your cereal offerings I will not accept, nor consider your stall-fed peace offerings. Away with your noisy songs!”
Wow. So, even God’s chosen people can mess up enough that they need to get back on track in a huge way. Being God’s chosen people doesn’t make them “better” than others, because they haven’t lived up to that potential.
The Responsorial Psalm — from Psalm 50 — is worth reading in its whole. But it, again, steps up the notion of God needing those blessed by his gifts to get with the program, to favor action over empty words: “Why do you recite my statutes, and profess my covenant with your mouth, Though you hate discipline and cast my words behind you?”
Depending on what part of the world you’re in, today might not mean anything to you. But, as an American, today is significant because July 4 is our Independence Day — the start of the United States of America. It is, without a doubt, the most patriotic day in our country.
So, with patriotic sentiments swelling in the corners of my eyes, I can’t help but think of today’s readings as they reflect on the larger idea of what it means to be an American.
Being an American doesn’t mean — on its face — I’m better than anyone else. In a lot of ways, it means that I need to step up my game, to show myself worthy of the gifts this country has given me. If I believe this country to be touched and guided by God, that isn’t a “get out of jail free” card for responsibility and moral authority. Quite the contrary! The foundational values of the country require dedication and discipline, lest we stray from them and betray those principles.
It’s easy to be surrounded by our national spirit and take it for granted, or not really understand what it means. The swineherds and townspeople in today’s Gospel selection had God himself in their midst, and they begged him to leave because his words and deeds were at odds with the lives they’d built for themselves. It’s all too easy to envision how this applies to an American spirit, “chasing away” the ideals of this country because it’s inconvenient or doesn’t fit in with the narrative we’ve built for ourselves.
In our religious lives, our holiest days are never an excuse to relax or rest on our laurels. Our holidays are always a spur to action: the joyful call of unity and community at Christmas, the reflection of our mortality of Ash Wednesday, the discipline of repentance during Lent, the proclamation of the Good News at Easter.
For those of us in the States, perhaps this secular holiday can also serve as a call to action, to reflect on our American ideals (especially as they intersect with our Christian values), and to strive to do more, individually and as a nation. A mere label doesn’t make us better than anyone else. Rather, its how well we live up to the “directions” and ideals signified by our labels, doing our part to help bring about the Kingdom here on Earth . . . to better prepare ourselves to be worthy of the greatest dwelling place in all creation.
Today’s readings: Am 5:14-15,21-24; Ps 50:7,8-9,10-11,12-13,16BC-17; Mt 8:28-34
