Liberty, Justice, and Our Baptismal Promise

Micah 6:8 He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

Summary: As we celebrate Independence Day, I am reminded that our love for our country and our baptismal promises both call us to seek liberty, justice, peace, and the dignity of every person.

Dear People of Faith,

Every day in elementary school I stood with my classmates, placed my hand over my heart, and recited the Pledge of Allegiance. Those words became part of me through daily repetition: "One nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

I did not know it then, but those words were shaping my imagination. They taught me to hope for a nation where every person mattered and where justice was not reserved for a few, but extended to all.

The original pledge was written in 1887 by Captain George Thatcher Balch as a way to teach patriotism to children in public schools. His hope was to form citizens who loved their country and took responsibility for its future. While the pledge we know today was written later by Francis Bellamy in 1892 and has been revised over time, that original vision of forming thoughtful, committed citizens remains an important part of our history.

As Episcopalians, we make another set of promises that also shape our hearts through repetition. Every time we renew our Baptismal Covenant we promise, "Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being?" Every time I answer, "I will, with God's help," those words sink a little deeper into my soul.

I have often thought about how beautifully these two visions can work together. Both call us beyond ourselves. Both invite us to care for our neighbors. Both remind us that freedom is not only a gift but also a responsibility.

This Saturday, our nation marks the 250th anniversary of Independence Day. It is a time to celebrate the many ideals that have inspired generations of Americans while also remembering that our work is never finished. As followers of Jesus, we continue to pray and labor so that liberty, justice, peace, and human dignity become realities for every person God has created.

May God continue to bless our country, and may God give us the courage to help it become ever more fully the nation it aspires to be.

God Bless America,

Pastor Anny+

Prayer Gracious God, thank you for the gift of this nation and for the calling you have given us in baptism. Fill us with courage to seek justice, make peace, and honor the dignity of every person. Amen.