The presider at Mass on Independence Day in the United States has a great choice of readings. I have chosen the passage above for today’s reflection.

Pope Leo quoted Isaiah 1:15 in his homily for Palm Sunday.  He added: “Jesus is the King of Peace, who rejects war, whom no one can use to justify war. He does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war but rejects them.” This passage of Isaiah goes on to say: “Make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your doings from before my eyes; cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice…” Its message is a good one for us as we celebrate this important anniversary of our independence as a nation.

The Mass prayers for this feast have similar things on which we do well to reflect today: the second collect says, “For what has been achieved we give you thanks and for the work that still remains we ask your help” and asks that “our country may share your blessings with all the peoples of the earth.”  The first prayer over the offerings asks that the Lord “lead us to true justice and lasting peace.” And the first prayer after communion asks that we “may work together to build the city of lasting peace.” This is the vision of the Lord Jesus and this Gospel which the first preface calls “our task for today and a promise for tomorrow.” This vision is not a political one but an indication of the authentic vocation and mission of Christians as good and faithful citizens in our society and every society.

—Fr. Bob Hagan, SJ, is a member of a community of senior Jesuits at Saint Ignatius Hall in Black Jack, Missouri. He does limited spiritual direction, mostly online; gives sacramental care to the lay Catholics at the adjacent retirement community; writes occasional reflections for Jesuit Prayer; posts various daily items and a longer weekly reflection on the Sunday Mass readings on his Facebook site at Bob Hagan SJ; and drives fellow Jesuits who no longer drive wherever they want to go.

Father of all nations and ages, 
 we recall the day when our country claimed it place among the family of nations; 
 for what has been achieved we give you thanks, 
 for the work that still remains we ask your help; 
 and as you have called us from many peoples to be one nation, 
 grant that, under your providence, 
 our country may share your blessings with all peoples of the earth.
 Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, 
 who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, 
 God, for ever and ever.  Amen.

—Second Collect for Independence Day in the United States of America