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Independence Does Not Mean Separation

This is a summary of a Fr. Gerry Creedon homily delivered at St. Charles on July 4, 2004

TAHIS WEEKEND WE CELEBRATE independence, freedom from empire.

Freedom is at the heart of the Christian message. The Eucharist we are about to celebrate is a freedom meal. It was no accident that Jesus shared the last Supper within the context of a Passover Meal. Passover re-enacted the exodus experience. God's people had lived under the Pharoah, who had robbed them of their religion, their language and their culture. Egypt stood for hard labor and oppression. The water of the Red Sea, which we recall in our baptismal rite, ruined the charioteers who sought to stop the flight to freedom. Moses promised to lead them to a land flowing with milk and honey.

Jesus came to "Proclaim liberty to captives." This proclamation was accompanied by healing and freeing action. "Unbind him, and let him go free" was his command to Lazarus. The final liberation was his saving death and resurrection. as we repeat with each Eucharistic acclamation, "By your cross and resurrection you have set us free."

Independence does not mean separation from the rest of the world. There is an ebb and flow in America's attitude to the rest of the world. After Somalia there were many calls for disengagement. We are now in a moment of intense, perhaps excessive engagement. As we attempt to build a democracy in the Middle East, it would be a strange irony if we turned away from the plight of the poorest and closest democarcy in this hemisphere, Haiti. We are sensitive to their electoral processes. However, if we are concerned for freedom, it must include not only the right to vote but the right to food, health care and the basic necessities of life.

Even when our foreign policy vacillates, our church has never translated independence as isolation. For Catholics freedom and solidarity go hand in hand. Our Pope, schooled in Poland's labor stuggle, has made solidarity a key word in his proclamation.

On this July 4 weekend we are happy to welcome Peres Jocelyn and Dieuvelome to St. Charles. They are pastors to Cavaillon and Gros Marin , our sister parishes in Haiti. In their company we renew our sister relationship.

Because of the recent coup d'etat their economy is shattered, with the price of rice escalating beyond the purchasing power of so many people.Though our sponsor program more than 300 children go to school, and are fed. A mill for grain has been put back in operation. Schools have been built and operated. Chapelles have been constructed for worship and community building.

In next week's second collection we will reach out to strengthen their ministry and at the same time offer some support to families devastated by the recent savage floods. During the summer we will recommit to and increase our sponsor program.

May our celebration of freedom offer all of us the opportunity to spread its blessings to more and more of God's people, still languishing in the chains of hunger and oppression.

  or  2004 Homilies