Independence Day
What does it mean to be independent?
The word Freedom comes to mind, the freedom to make your own choices, govern yourself, get out from under oppressive rule. This is what we celebrate on our Independence Day.
But there is more involved in breaking away from the rule of an oppressor than claiming one's independence. You have to fight for it.
Then he said to them, "Whose head is this, and whose title?" They answered, "The emperor's." Then he said to them, "Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor's, and to God the things that are God's." - Matthew 22:20-21
In today's gospel reading, Matthew shows us how Jesus talked his way out of a sticky situation, when he was challenged to make a statement against the Emperor.
What he was saying, though, was that the Emperor may rule over this land, but he does not rule over me, at least not in my head, my heart and my soul.
Words like that are powerful. They can start a movement, clear an obstacle, blaze a path, and free the mind. We need words of freedom and independence today.
It seems ironic that we have taken technology that unites the world and we use it to isolate ourselves form it, consuming our time with games and small circles of chats, tweets and photo-sharing.
These are our weapons of truth and freedom, these smartphones we carry with us day and night.
Each year, Google holds a science fair, a challenge for 13-18 year olds to invent something that has the potential to change the world. The video commissioned for the 2013 fair sends a clear message that it is possible to be that instrument of change.
For me, independence is a process that begins when we are born and hopefully never dies before we do. It is that struggle to be ourselves, separated from our mothers before we have a clue what is happening, and challenging the the authority others impose on us all along the way.
But we have the ability to make a difference in every life we touch, simply by reaching out and connecting. With the simple words Jesus used to clarify the limits of the emperor's authority, he freed his followers from the belief that Caesar owned them. He told them they belonged to no one but God.
Wow!
Imagine if we could get that message to everyone in Iraq and Syria, to Israel and the West Bank, to China, North Korea, Africa, Afghanistan, Ukraine, Iran and every place where people are being oppressed, mistreated, abused and tortured. Imagine how liberating it would be to know they are not alone.
As the video of the Google challenge says at the end. Now it's your turn.
More to come...