Reflection for Sunday – July 5, 2026

July 1, 2026Sue HowardSunday Readings Homilies

Readings: Zechariah 9: 8-10; Romans 8: 9, 11-13; Matthew 11: 25-30
Preacher: Susan Howard

When you’re out at a party or a family dinner there are two topics to avoid— religion and politics. They are sure to create friction.

However, both religion and politics are basic frameworks by which groups of people make decisions about how to best use resources, who gets power, and to resolve conflicts. Both have laws and precepts that help mold a society and supposedly assure the safety and security of their people. In both cases the success of this societal construct will only be as good as their leaders. Some are out to protect their own interests while others are intent to see that their people all thrive in peace and harmony.

It is the same today as it was in the life and times of the Prophet Zechariah. The nation of Israel was cosmopolitan, encompassing people of many religions and places of origin. There were territorial wars in the quest for lands and riches; there were different economic classes and differing philosophies about religion and the grand design of life. Zechariah, a spiritual visionary, sees the possibility of a leader who brings hope and justice to a people who have only known disruption in their lives caused by wars, slavery and dislocation. This “king” would bring peace to the nations!

Let’s jump about 2000 years to the year 1775. The Colonists living in America under British rule had been discontent with the way the king was treating them. For over ten years they had been subject to tyrannical rule, they noted 27 grievances including having taxes and restrictions in trade that were imposed on them without having any representation in the government. It came to a head in 1776 with the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the beginning of the American Revolution. That war continued for 6 years and didn’t truly end until the signing of the Treaty of Paris in 1783.

The writers of the Declaration were seeking a way of government that would create a more just society in which their people would thrive, where all people are created equal and could experience “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” They wanted a government of the people by the people, not ruled by a King. NO KINGS!

I’ll leave that sentiment to stand on its own.

This American experiment of government has been through many tests and trials for the past 250 years but overall has led us to be world leaders in economic growth, science, medicine, technology and international commerce.

This success has been due in part to the liberty or freedom from tyrannical rule which often even determined what religion was approved by the government. While both religious and government organizations strive for a moral and just foundation, the freedom to choose which path to follow to that end is paramount to human flourishing. The rub for many people is that the leaders and laws of these organizations have also been used to subjugate groups of people, are prone to abuse of power, and are not immune from the evils of greed, avarice, and malice. Many people have just dropped out—and choose to disregard religion and politics altogether.

Those of us who stay have our own reasons. We have found communities of faith that embrace at least a hint of kindness, and brotherly and sisterly love. We have found that taking up the yoke of Christ and allowing the Spirit to find a home in our hearts, minds and inmost being has led to a spiritual flourishing. This flourishing bears fruits: compassion, the pursuit of justice for those oppressed, the striving to build the kingdom of God in our homes, places of work, neighborhoods and schools.

Our choice of religious practice informs our daily decisions regarding how we are going to feed our family, take care of our friends, support ourselves, and become contributing members of a community or society. We have found a moral compass on which to base our lives.

We are not perfect. We are the little ones. The gift of faith is given to us regardless of our level of intelligence, economic status, or religious piety. If the heart of God has been revealed to you, if you have opened that door and let the Spirit in, you will find the rest and the peace of mind, that can be found by embracing the life of Christ.

This fourth of July, we celebrate our freedom to worship the God who made all life possible!

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Sue Howard

Born and raised in Rochester N.Y., Sue Howard received an Associates degree in art with a pottery major. She later earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work at RIT. She worked with the elderly for over 26 years, first as a therapeutic recreation specialist at the Shire at Culverton and Monroe Community Hospital, then as Director of Recreation at Wesley Gardens and finally as Director of Volunteers and Spiritual Services, also at Wesley.

During that time she and her husband raised two children and she went to St. Bernard's School of Theology and Ministry and earned her Masters of Divinity degree in May of 2003. She worked at St. Andrew, Annunciation, Blessed Sacrament, St. Boniface and St. Mary's Churches.Retired in 2020