US Independence Day

Happy Independence Day!

As we celebrate the great event of the American independence, I wish God’s abundant blessings on this great country and on all who live here.

Freedom is a word very close to the soul of America. Unwavering commitment to the freedom of the human person is what distinguishes this country in the civilizations of the world. The American constitution’s primary concern is the protection of human dignity and freedom. As we rejoice in this fact, let us also renew our commitment to respecting it and upholding it at all times and in all circumstances.

It is also important that we understand the true meaning of freedom. Modern culture tends to understand freedom merely as the lack of restraint, namely, ‘freedom from’. This is negative, aimless freedom. But freedom is essentially ‘freedom for’. Freedom has to be purposeful. It is essentially a means, not an end in itself. It is the means for human liberation. Freedom is fundamentally the possibility to realize oneself as a human person, as the child of God. This realization is what we call liberation or salvation in religious terms. Consequently, freedom carries with it responsibility. Freedom devoid of a sense of responsibility is destructive. Let the celebrations of this independence day make us deeply aware of the true meaning and importance of freedom in our life and the necessity of protecting it, especially at a time when this fundamental freedom faces unprecedented challenges from various quarters.