Jordan Paul

Almighty God, who has created man in thine own image; Grant us grace fearlessly to contend against evil, and to make no peace with oppression; and, that we may reverently use our freedom, help us to employ it in the maintenance of justice among men and nations, to the glory of thy holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Friends,

I have often thought that God did not allow me to write Daily Breads for Sundays because it would open up the possibility of me writing one on Mother’s Day or Father’s Day and I would be unable to hold myself back from writing about how civil holidays shouldn’t be celebrated in churches, and then I would alienate everyone who read it.

Unfortunately, Independence Day isn’t confined to Sundays and this year, it falls on the first Friday of the month. In other words, “my” day.

Today, the Church celebrates Independence Day. Fortunately, God has a sense of humor and today we read from St. Paul’s Letter to the Hebrews.

Shortly before the portion of the letter appointed for today, St. Paul tells us that it is impossible to please God without faith. He then goes on to recount the stories of some of those who have pleased God throughout the ages. At the end of today’s appointed section, St. Paul writes that while those people died without receiving what they promised, they took a different path from others in their homeland and sought a better, heavenly country.

What different path might we be called to today as a result of our faith?

We often think of answers to this question in grand terms: taking a stand against the death penalty, advocating for peace, etc. In the words of Stanley Hauerwas, perhaps we wish to be known in the future as people who did not “kill their children or their elderly.”

These grand narratives often miss those closest to us. What if, as Fr. Ben Crosby writes, we were also the people who really paid attention when talking to people without reaching for our phones? Or, as today’s Gospel commands us, were known for praying for our enemies?

After all, God might love us how we are, but He loves us too much to let us stay that way. We have to start somewhere.

In Christ,

—Jordan