The Fourteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time 2026
July 5, 2026
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Zechariah 9:9-10; Psalm 145; Romans
8:9-13; Matthew 11:25-30
As Christians, we straddle two worlds – the city of God and
the city of humanity, and we are missioned to build the city of God on earth.
Christians are asked to perform an examination of conscience and consciousness
each day, and as the Body of Christ, we need to also do it nationally. The
first reading from Zechariah writes about a humble king who proclaims peace to
the nations, while the Gospel praises gentleness and humility in a spirit of
gratitude to God. It is within this context that we can reflect upon the USA’s
commemoration of its Declaration of Independence.
The Gospel proclaims, “Come to me, all you who labor and
are burdened,
and I will give you rest,” which sets the framework for Emma Lazarus’s poem at
the base of the Statue of Liberty, “Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled
masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the
golden door!” How are we doing with our hospitality and sense of belonging?
What is our response to those who suffer? The way we care for one another
reveals how well we know God. It is something upon which we can reflect.
Our Declaration of Independence lists out our core values.
What are they? 1. We have natural rights
that cannot be taken away. Each person should have the opportunity
for unalienable rights, including life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. We may have to come back to
this in a discussion of equality and equity. 2. We need government by
consent. Our governments derive their power from the consent of the
governed, meaning that authority is granted by us, the people, and we have the
right to alter or abolish a government that fails to protect our rights. 3.
We need equality, meaning that each of us is created
equal and is entitled to equal treatment and opportunities. We need to examine
our practices and policies more closely. 4. We have a right to revolt.
We have the right to revolt against oppressive governments,
asserting that it is our right and duty to do so when faced with tyranny.
Layered upon these
principles are the Four Freedoms outlined by Franklin Delano Roosevelt and
symbolized by Norman Rockwell in paintings. As part of Christian dignity, we
have the Freedom of Speech without censorship, the Freedom of worship and the
practice of religion, the Freedom from Want to assure that every person has the
basic access to necessities and economic security, and the Freedom from Fear
and protection from violence and oppression. This applies to citizens and our
guests. How are we doing to make sure that each person is guaranteed these
inalienable rights? Are there people or groups who are excluded from these Four
Freedoms?
We also make
distinctions between equality and equity. Equality means providing the same
resources and opportunities to everyone, regardless of individual circumstances
or needs. It assumes we all start from the same place and have the same level
of support. Equity is quite distinct and is based on dignity of the individual.
It involves distributing resources based on individual needs and circumstances.
It recognizes that people face different barriers and seeks to provide the
needed support to achieve fair outcomes. Equality means sameness; Equity
focuses on fairness. Equality may not lead to fair outcomes due to the varying
starting points, whereas equity aims to provide for each according to one’s
needs.
A crucial part of the Gospel message is gratitude. It is in thanking God for
the blessings and wisdom given to the people of belief and hiding it from the
strong and powerful. This gratitude allows us to grow in wisdom, gentleness,
and humility, and to take the heart of God and bring it to our place on earth.
As Christians, we constantly renew our personal and national self-examination
and ask where we need to grow in God’s wisdom and our care for one another. Let
us do our very best in reflecting upon who we are and where we are going so
that we practice our faith in integrity. Then, we will have rest for our souls,
and yet, we remain restless until each person has fundamental dignity, equity,
and freedom.
