"We hold these truths to be self-evident,,," - Rector's Rambling for July 3, 2016

Although on the liturgical calendar it is not Independence Day, we certainly find ourselves in the midst of the “Fourth of July” weekend.

Actually, it is the Sixth Sunday after Trinity, and we are well into our long “green” season of ordered teachings by Jesus about the nature of God, His love and mercy, and the fullness of the Godhead in Jesus Himself, as the second person of the Trinity.

During the other seasons of the year we look at different emphases, such as sin and repentance in Lent, Christ’s first and second coming in Advent, and the Manifestation of God in Jesus Christ in Epiphany.

In Trinity-tide, we look to answer the questions – “what is the nature of God”, and “now that we believe that Jesus Christ is Lord, how would He have us live?”  This season is “ordinary” due to the ordered teachings, not because nothing special is going on.

But in the midst of this ordinary Sunday we do pay respect and homage to the birth of our nation by her Declaration of Independence in 1776 (certain colonies having already been at war with England since April of 1775).  As the document begins, “When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.  We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

Thirty-two of the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence (57%) worshipped in what would become after the Revolutionary War the Episcopal Church.  May God bless our country as we strive to be a people grateful for His providence, and working to be the country and people He intends.  And may we, as faithful Episcopalians, continue to pray for, and raise up leaders for, our country.