I am proud to be an American. I love PBR and BBQ and the beauty of the 50 different states. I support our troops and no matter what my political opinions are I have respect for the President. America is free and it is a great and beautiful thing. But what is freedom? A lot of people in this country and frankly around the world believe its satisfying what "I want now". Really? That's freedom? Freedom ranges anywhere from having the "right" to apply for jobs, to drop out of school at 16, defy your parents at 18, drink at 21, have an abortion, get married umpteen times, have a same sex-marriage, and commit suicide or perform euthanasia (not that there is an earthly punishment for suicide). To simply disagree with any of these "rights" or life styles is to be condemning, hateful and not compassionate. To speak out against these topics opens wide the door for persecution on these contrary beliefs.
Suddenly freedom is to do what is comfortable and temporarily satisfactory but to stand up for what I believe in is "inconsiderate" or "hateful". This is why I question freedom in this beautiful country I live in. Has our freedom allowed us to veer off the right path? Has it pacified us into an easy and "compassionate" life style where suffering is suddenly not good for us? How did we get to this free country in the first place? And how have we fought for freedom to reign in this country? Suffering. War. Blood, sweat, and tears my friends. Martin Luther King Jr. gave one of the most incredible speeches in history about freedom and gained for an entire race the opportunity to live in freedom and in rightful respect for their human dignity. What a heroic man. Americans fought for this freedom we experience but have we taken in for granted? Have we fallen asleep in striving for what matters most? Are we honestly loving people in the way we define "compassion" and in the "rights" we demand that we have? If suddenly encouraging our friends and family's to embrace their crosses and run to Christ for strength to endure this temporary life is hateful and not compassionate we're missing something.
Self-centered desires will never ever truly satisfy us and selfishness is not freedom. Selfishness is definitely one of those "politically incorrect" terms. It's as if I called anyone who has ever chosen to live their life in a way I find eternally unsatisfying a foul name or cursed their birth or called them worth less than dirt. In no way do I mean that. Am I selfish? So incredibly selfish. I have been selfish time and time again in ways that have sent me to Confession before I dare receive the Eucharist in reverence to my God. Sin is selfish. Hard to avoid? No, not just hard, sometimes literally impossible to avoid by our own strength. YES. Scary to avoid? Yes. But no matter how difficult our temptations might be - fighting for truth to reign in our life and seeking the mercy of God and his love and strength is always a better path than the alternative. Sometimes we don't realize that until we've fallen and we suddenly experience the brokenness and guilt that wounds our soul after the fact. Sometimes we're scared to believe we've done something wrong or seriously harmful to ourselves because not giving into the temptation was too difficult and we didn't know how to say no or avoid it. Sometimes we don't realize the negative effect it has had on us. But when we avoid truth, our crosses, temptations and weaknesses by failing to trust that what God tells us is true and good for us, we cause ourselves a whole host of more sufferings. BUT - I say this not to condemn but to direct one to the mercy of God and to joy and peace because even though disagreeing with the church and failing to follow God's teachings isnt good for us, God knows it happens but he does still love us he just wants us to receive and experience his love not ignore him and keep failing him.
Listen to the final line from the second reading today: "For God delivered all to disobedience, that he might have mercy upon all." There is suffering in the world for a reason. We aren't given easy lives when we get what we want all the time f o r a r e a s o n. First of all because as much as we think we do, we don't always know what is best for us. We have to trust that God does know what is best for us and that what He teaches is better for us than we know. We were given freedom, a free-will, but more importantly we were given the free love of a merciful Father. God allows us to disobey him because he's not that crazy, controlling, nagging parent who claws us into their control. He lets us be selfish and stupid and hurt him and betray him but he isn't gonna kick you out. He'll sure let you walk out because he's not gonna lock you in. That is freedom. Love is freedom. Freedom is mercy and truth and it goes hand in hand with suffering and sacrifice and humility that maybe you don't know what is best and maybe you have temptations and desires contrary to what God wills for you but that doesn't make them good for you.
I find this line of scripture so powerful for our society today because there is a lot of fear to disagree with peoples lifestyles that contradict Church doctrine. America's definition of compassion and freedom no longer correlates with the love God actually has for us. God's love for us is more than our society lets us believe. Its not wimpy - its powerful and stength-giving and life-changing. God lets us fall and be disobedient to him. He knows life is hard and that we are weak and aren't always going to listen or trust him just like children do to their moms and dads but he is ALWAYS there with open arms and frankly he lets us fall just so we can run to him and know how much he loves us. He allows us to fall and gifts us with the experience of his mercy. The mercy of God is undying, freeing and healing. It sets our souls free from the sin that bogs us down in the face of temptation. God's mercy gives us peace and joy. I know - I've experienced it when I myself doubted it. Each and every human being no matter what his beliefs or cross or lifestyle is loved by God with a deep and powerful love that no other human being can feel or give to him or her. God's love is such a gift and he desires deeply to give each and every person his love and to give them the experience of his mercy time and time again. That is compassion - bringing someone to the mercy and the undying love of God and the truth of the Father's will for them.
Allow yourself to experience the love of God and his mercy that he has for you. Nothing you have done and no way you have disobeyed God can keep you from the mercy he has for you. Run to him to receive the mercy he has for you. Experience the freedom of his truth and love. And don't settle for being that Catholic who is okay with other people's life styles just because society tells you you have to be "accepting." Show everyone the love and mercy of God, treat them with kindness and compassion and lead them to the truth of God which will sets all people free. Be American and fight for freedom - true freedom from the God who we ask to bless our country.
Scripture says is - we've all been allowed to freely choose to disobey God because his mercy is always waiting for us.
Have Mercy on us, my Lord and my God.
