Jesus said, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Matthew 5:43-48
A Litany for Independence Day
Wondrous Creator, we celebrate our nation's freedom today
with great joy and great humility for what we have been given.
Lord, you have promised that one day all people will be truly free.
This country was once the home to many hundreds of tribes
who walked these sacred roads and paddled these rivers.
Lord, you have promised that one day all people will be truly free.
Many crossed the ocean for a new home and for freedom
some were brought here, bound and chained as slaves.
Lord, you have promised that one day all people will be truly free.
We have not always loved he stranger and the new arrivals
and we have often taken what did not belong to us here.
Lord, you have promised that one day all people will be truly free.
Yet you Lord, have blessed us in every generation
opening our eyes to the blindness and cruelty of the past.
Lord, you have promised that one day all people will be truly free.
We still haven't reached the goal of life, liberty and happiness
for those who come here as refugees, then turned away.
Lord, you have promised that one day all people will be truly free.
Make us humble, make us glad and set us truly free
to truly welcome and embrace every neighbor you send our way.
Lord, you have promised that one day all people will be truly free. Amen.
