On Independence Day, Americans celebrate their freedom. With fireworks, hamburgers, and parades, Americans let freedom ring.

Politically, Americans are free from the King of England. We are free from the rule of one person or group. “Live free or die,” the motto of the State of New Hampshire, could be the motto of the United States of America.

Besides political freedom, we have the economic freedom to buy and sell what we want when we want. We have the freedom to start our own business.

We have the personal freedom to associate with whomever we wish without fear of losing our job. We can live where we want to live. We are free to worship as we please.

President Roosevelt, during World War II, gave a speech on the four freedoms. He spoke about freedom from fear and want and the freedom of worship and speech. Norman Rockwell made four paintings to illustrate the four freedoms.

America is the home of the brave and the land of the free.

Yet none of these freedoms is in the Bible. The political, economic, and personal freedoms that our armies fight wars for are not in Scripture!

These freedoms matter only insofar as they bring about the only freedom that matters: spiritual freedom.

“We have been freed from sin” (Romans 6:18, 20). Through baptism, we have been washed clean of original sin. Even as Moses led the people out of slavery in Egypt through the waters of the Red Sea, the Lord Jesus has led us out of slavery to sin through his blood and Spirit.

As Catholics, our Independence Day celebration is not once a year. No longer slaves of sin, we celebrate our freedom from sin and death every Sunday. We do not celebrate with fireworks. We celebrate with the Mass.

In the Mass we pray, "Save us, Savior of the world, for by your cross and resurrection you have set us free." Jesus has set us free from sin and death.

On the Fourth of July, the star-spangled banner is everywhere. Americans proudly fly the red, white and blue flag, the symbol of freedom and an inspiration to nations.

The symbol of our spiritual freedom is the cross. The cross has won the victory over the slavery to sin. Freed from sin, we have been freed to live in him.

In Christ,

Father David