Memorial Day / Independence Day
Prayer
Pastoral Prayers For All Seasons
Object:
What a powerful idea, Eternal God, lurks within the word independence. Think of it: we are fully in charge of our lives. We have no need to secure another's approval. We can turn right or left, go up or down, or move in our out as we choose.
What a bold, self-assured, and creative step it was when the early colonists determined to break free of England's dominance. Sometimes we romanticize the days of Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, Benjamin Franklin -- not seeing the sleepless nights, the bloodied soldiers, and the shattered familial love that once held England and us together. We set out on our own course -- let conventional wisdom be hung.
Independence isn't our country's exclusive province. It marks the yearning of many peoples and nations. It is the heady potion young people desire. It is the yearning of the apprentice, the understudy, the rookie, and the scholar.
It characterizes the dream of first century Israel held in the grasp of the Roman Empire. They were convinced that someday the messiah would appear and lead them to victory over their suppressors. Someday Israel would be free. Many centuries later those words would be echoed by Martin Luther King, Jr., "free at last." Is there a dream of more grandeur? Is there a more powerful desire? Is there a more universal hunger and thirst?
Moving to our independence is done with just one goal in mind -- to be free! But what happens when those about us set out to reach the same goal? We run the real risk of becoming enemies. Suddenly independence is exclusive. We lose sight of freedom's meaning, when we move to block the independence of others claiming that it is ours alone.
Jesus lived and died that we might be set free. Paul claimed, "For freedom Christ has set us free."* It is the next part of the journey -- beyond freedom -- that vexes us. God, enable us to see beyond the narrow conviction that no one will ever tell us what to do. There is a step beyond freedom and independence -- it is the step taken toward you, O God. Only as we relinquish our independence to you will we know what freedom is. We can become who we are to become only within your will.
In the name of our Master and Teacher we pray. Amen.
* Galatians 5:1 RSV
What a bold, self-assured, and creative step it was when the early colonists determined to break free of England's dominance. Sometimes we romanticize the days of Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, Benjamin Franklin -- not seeing the sleepless nights, the bloodied soldiers, and the shattered familial love that once held England and us together. We set out on our own course -- let conventional wisdom be hung.
Independence isn't our country's exclusive province. It marks the yearning of many peoples and nations. It is the heady potion young people desire. It is the yearning of the apprentice, the understudy, the rookie, and the scholar.
It characterizes the dream of first century Israel held in the grasp of the Roman Empire. They were convinced that someday the messiah would appear and lead them to victory over their suppressors. Someday Israel would be free. Many centuries later those words would be echoed by Martin Luther King, Jr., "free at last." Is there a dream of more grandeur? Is there a more powerful desire? Is there a more universal hunger and thirst?
Moving to our independence is done with just one goal in mind -- to be free! But what happens when those about us set out to reach the same goal? We run the real risk of becoming enemies. Suddenly independence is exclusive. We lose sight of freedom's meaning, when we move to block the independence of others claiming that it is ours alone.
Jesus lived and died that we might be set free. Paul claimed, "For freedom Christ has set us free."* It is the next part of the journey -- beyond freedom -- that vexes us. God, enable us to see beyond the narrow conviction that no one will ever tell us what to do. There is a step beyond freedom and independence -- it is the step taken toward you, O God. Only as we relinquish our independence to you will we know what freedom is. We can become who we are to become only within your will.
In the name of our Master and Teacher we pray. Amen.
* Galatians 5:1 RSV
