Proper 9c 2025; 6 July
Independence Day Liturgy
OH FREEDOM
I love Independence Day.
All of it.
The fireworks, the gatherings, the food, all the bright colors and decorations, all the creative ways the flag is displayed and celebrated.
There is always some jingoism going on, some latest hate project hiding behind the flag, but they get drowned out in the festivity. And I love that too.
I love the history and the change of world view as democracy finds its American beginnings, the divine anointing of government coming through the will of the people rather than through the will of monarchy and the church.
It changed the church, especially the Episcopal Church, I think it saved us from stagnating entitlements. Fascinating history.
But I think what really catches my attention is freedom itself, it is a festival of freedom.
And freedom is a biblical word.
It is spirit breathed.
It always gets me thinking about freedom, what it is and what it isn’t, and to have a big party to celebrate that virtue, that ethic, that vocation, that ideal, that hope.
Paul wrote about freedom last Sunday in the reading from Galatians, The Spirit sets us free, the idolatry of self infatiuation enslaves. He gives a stark contrasting depiction of freedom and slavery. The fruit of the Spirit are evidence of true freedom, things like: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self- control.
That is what freedom looks like.
I always thought that freedom was getting to do whatever I want.
Paul would have called that slavery.
Freedom is a tricky thing.
I am only free if I choose to live in the power of the Spirit, to be animated by that power, to bear the fruit of that power.
Freedom becomes part of the redemption of humanity and of all creation.
Freedom becomes the work of the Gospel.
We hear today of the commissioning of the seventy by Jesus, to go forth into the world bringing good news, healing and liberty from the demonic.
The number seventy has this interesting symbolic meaning, the number seven, is the number of the completion of creation, the seventh day of creation of the gift of God’s Sabbath rest.
The seventy are agents of completion.
I can hear the blues brothers saying they are on a mission from God.
That is the seventy.
Bringing completion to that which is partial, unfinished incomplete, and broken apart.
The seventy bring the completeness of God that has entered into the world in Jesus the messiah.
Bringing the freedom that is life in the Spirit.
I love independence day, we throw a party to celebrate the truly wondrous mystery of freedom.
Really what we are doing is celebrating God’s holiness, God’s freedom.
In God’s freedom God says yes to our humanity, imperfect and incomplete as we are, and God’s yes completes us and sets us free. That word of completion, that yes, is the person of Jesus.
I love Independence Day.
We celebrate that gift.