Our nation was founded on belief in God. The President takes his oath of office by placing his hand on the Bible, the Word of God, and ends with, “So help me God.” In our pledge of allegiance we say, “One nation under God.” Engraved on our money is “In God we trust.”
Our Founding Fathers may have opted for a separation of Church and state but not for a separation of God and state. There is no brotherhood of man without the Fatherhood of God. The division of life into the sacred and the secular is a false dichotomy. There is not now, there never was and there will never be the purely secular, that is, anyone or anything which is not dependent on God.  Yes, there are folks who’d like to do away with any acknowledgement of God in the public square.  But shame on us, if we allow ourselves to be so intimidated by a secular culture that we no longer live our faith in the world.

In witness to this priceless gift of faith which we treasure, I invite you to join with me in a celebration of a Mass for the Nation on Monday, July 4, at 9:00am.  A holiday Mass is always a special gathering and a good way to keep a focus on what is important in life….Oh, and don’t forget the advice my dear old Dad would give me every year at this time in the days before liquor stores were open on the 4th – Don’t forget to get your 5th for the 4th on the 3rd.  Talk about keeping a focus on what is important in life!

Gracious God, lover of souls, You have made us for community,
For relationships fixed in time and space, woven through common experiences,
inspired by shared struggles.  Dedicated to common goals.
We give thanks for this nation of ours, for its commitment to liberty,
for the vision of its founders, for the bravery of its citizenry,
for its defense of the weak, for its love of justice.
We give thanks for our fellow Americans, for their goodness and generosity,
for the dreams that brought us all to this land, for the genius and industry of every generation,
for the rich tapestry of our cultural heritage, for commitments that have made many, one.

On this day of national celebration, as we mark the anniversary
of this great experiment, we pray…

Strengthen us in our resolve to act justly,
To care for the weak, to defend the persecuted,
and to foster freedom and peace.
When we fail, make us quick to confess our faults,
Strong enough to amend our ways, and mindful of the inheritance entrusted to us.
Defend us, we pray, against tyrannies that challenge us from without,
Ideologies that erode from within, and the carelessness that so easily invades our hearts.
Make us worthy of the sacrifices made by so many,
inspire us to own for ourselves the best of our traditions,
Lend genius to our efforts and instill virtue in our children.
And remind us all, that we enjoy this land of ours for only a brief time,
as the place where we do our work, delight in our families,
care for our neighbors and nurture our faith.
For one day, all nations and races will appear before your throne,
measured by your justice, redeemed by your grace,
dependent upon your love, indebted to your wisdom.
Lead us and guide us, through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen!

On the Way Home: In today’s Gospel the followers of Jesus were given the role of going before Jesus and preparing his way.  It is the mission of every baptized Catholic. 
How do you give yourself to this Mission?