A National Examen

 

                                  

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.