大象传媒

Good morning
Today is America鈥檚 national day, a day for stars and stripes, a time of rejoicing for all our transatlantic cousins and friends. Three or four years ago, whilst on American soil, I was given the seat of honour for the formal public reading of the Declaration of Independence, one of the nation鈥檚 founding documents. Its opening words trumpet an optimistic note: 鈥淲e hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.鈥� What a world they point to, a world in which it would be bliss indeed to be alive. Unfortunately, as we know only too well, the reality is somewhat different. Too many men and women, in America as well as elsewhere, do not seem to enjoy many unalienable rights and their days are spent in the pursuit of survival rather than happiness.

A long time before the existence of the United States of America, St Paul issued his own declaration of independence. He came straight out with it: 鈥淎ll men and women are sinners and fall short of the glory of God.鈥� From that starting point he traced a path that would lead flawed human beings along the road of love and forgiveness that would enable them to break out of the prisons of despair to enjoy a life-giving relationship with their maker. They鈥檇 move out of slavery to sin into the glorious freedom of the children of God.

Dear Lord, show us your mercy and help us to work hard to turn dreams into reality so that people everywhere may enjoy the Life, Liberty and pursuit of Happiness for which we all yearn. Through Christ our Lord, amen.