Collect taken from the special prayers provided for Independence Day.
Collect: God of justice, Father of truth, who guide creation in wisdom and goodness to fulfillment in Christ your Son, open our hearts to the truth of his Gospel, that your peace may rule in our hearts and your justice guide our lives. Through our Lord Jesus Christ…
“God of justice, Father of truth, who guide creation in wisdom and goodness to fulfillment in Christ your Son,”
– Creation is good and there are many good things we human beings seek to do, but the fulfillment of goodness is found only in Jesus Christ. The implication is that God’s providence is at work in the good things about the U.S., but it cannot be divorced from the call to follow Christ above all, even our own country.
“open our hearts to the truth of his Gospel, that your peace may rule in our hearts and your justice guide our lives.”
– Peace is good for both our country and for the faithful, but true peace can only be found in the Gospel. So, our prayer for this openness to truth is primarily about conversion and salvation, but these things bring the authentic peace and justice that are good for our dear country.
Questions & Advice: Are you patriotic? Does your loyalty to Christ and his Church transcend your good, but limited loyalty to the country? Do you see how authentic Christianity makes for good citizens? Can you imagine how being only a zealous citizen might make for a bad Christian?
Read about the principles of a good social order in the Catechism (1897+). Spend some of your daily prayer time reflecting on the good in our country and thank God. Reflect also on the biggest challenges facing our society and pray for the strength to face them honestly.
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| and deliver it from sin and corruption! |