Today our nation commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence (July 4, 1776), which declared the original colonies to be free from British rule.
Sadly, in truth, it was not for another 89 years that all our citizens were free, because it took that long for there to be an official end to slavery. That occasion is marked by “Juneteenth” which only in recent years was brought to the attention of most of us. (June 19, 1865) Would that we could be more honest about our history.
A Franciscan blessing on this 4th of July
May God bless you with anger
at injustice, oppression
and exploitation of people,
so that you may work for
justice, freedom, and peace.
May God bless you with tears,
to shed for those who suffer pain,
rejection, hunger and war,
so that you may reach out your hand
to comfort them and
to turn their pain to joy
And may God bless you with enough foolishness
to believe that you can
make a difference in the world,
so that you can do
what others claim cannot be done
to bring justice and kindness
to all our children and the poor.
Amen.
[from The Clergy Coaching Network]
The Rev. Ellen Meissgeier