A King That Bleeds Red–A July 4th Reminder to Catholics

It’s the Fourth of July. A day to remember the birth of a nation, yes–but not to forget the death and Resurrection of a King.

To be authentically Catholic in America is to live in a tension that few like to name. We can love this country–we can even fight for her when justice requires it–but we cannot pretend that America is our highest allegiance. The squabbles that happen between R’s and D’s are laden with landmines on each side, equal opportunity grenades just waiting to blow up our Faith. We have one King. And He doesn’t bleed red, white, and blue.

He bleeds red.

This isn’t a shot at our Protestant brothers and sisters, many of whom also see that something deeper is required of us. All I have to do is think with fondness and charity on all the Protestant students and teachers I worked with and came to cherish in my time at South Beauregard High. Trust me, I am not shunning you.

But for Catholics—especially here in South Louisiana where our history and our faith run just as deep as our bayous–we must say this clearly: Patriotism is good, but it’s not a Sacrament. Our love for country cannot outpace our love for the Eucharist, for the power of Reconciliation and penance. Our defense of liberty must never compromise our defense of Truth.

And the Truth is this: America was born of a revolution. Catholicism was born of a crucifixion.

Christ commanded that we must carry our cross. Do we do that every day? Do we substitute that with a life of recreation exclusively, convincing ourselves that, well, at least Trump is better than Obama or Biden or Harris.

They’re really anti-Catholic!

The American founding was brilliant in many ways, but it was also Enlightenment-shaped and sometimes explicitly anti-Catholic. That doesn’t mean we throw it all out–it means we approach it with discernment. With gratitude, yes–thank God he blessed me with this as a home and not somewhere else, because at least I have the freedom to go to Mass as I choose (2020 says hold my July 4th beer) and write this very article you are reading. But also with clarity. And when those two loyalties clash, our loyalty to Christ and our loyalty to country–and they most certainly do–there can be no question where we must stand.

Or where we must kneel.

I say this not to pick a fight, not to pour stale beer over everybody’s celebrations, but to remind Catholics of who we are. We are not called to be comfortable. We are not called to blend in. We are called to be salty.

From St John Chrysostom. Not necessary to read if you want to skip forward, but certainly an enlightening addition right before post time:

You are the salt of the earth. It is not for your own sake, he says, but for the world’s sake that the word is entrusted to you. I am not sending you only into two cities only or ten to twenty, not to a single nation, as I sent the prophets of old, but across land and sea, to the whole world.

And that world is in a miserable state. For when he says: You are the salt of the earth, he is indicating that all mankind had lost its savor and had been corrupted by sin. Therefore, he requires of these men those virtues which are especially useful and even necessary if they are to bear the burdens of many. For the man who is kindly, modest, merciful and just will not keep his good works to himself but will see to it that these admirable fountains send out their streams for the good of others. Again, the man who is clean of heart, a peacemaker and ardent for truth will order his life so as to contribute to the common good.

Do not think, he says, that you are destined for easy struggles or unimportant tasks. You are the salt of the earth. What do these words imply? Did the disciples restore what had already turned rotten? Not at all. Salt cannot help what is already corrupted. That is not what they did. But what had first been renewed and freed from corruption and then turned over to them, they salted and preserved in the newness the Lord had bestowed. It took the power of Christ to free men from the corruption caused by sin; it was the task of the apostles through strenuous labor to keep that corruption from returning.

Have you noticed how, bit by bit, Christ shows them to be superior to the prophets? He says they are to be teachers not simply for Palestine but for the whole world. Do not be surprised, then, he says, that I address you apart from the others and involve you in such a dangerous enterprise. Consider the numerous and extensive cities, peoples and nations I will be sending you to govern. For this reason I would have you make others prudent, as well as being prudent yourselves. For unless you can do that, you will not be able to sustain even yourselves.

If others lose their savor, then your ministry will help them regain it. But if you yourselves suffer that loss, you will drag others down with you. Therefore, the greater the undertakings put into your hands, the more zealous you must be. For this reason he says: But if the salt becomes tasteless, how can its flavor be restored? It is good for nothing now, but to be thrown out and trampled by men’s feet.

When they hear the words: When they curse you and persecute you and accuse you of every evil, They may be afraid to come forward. Therefore he says: “Unless you are prepared for that sort of thing, it is in vain that I have chosen you. Curses shall necessarily be your lot but they shall not harm you and will simply be a testimony to your constancy. If through fear, however, you fail to show the forcefulness your mission demands, your lot will be much worse, for all will speak evil of you and despise you. That is what being trampled by men’s feet means.”

Being an authentic Christian is tough work, even as the latest national holiday is upon us.

So grill your burgers. Sprinkle some salt on them. Watch the fireworks. Heck my wife and I will be on the road having some fun ourselves.

But don’t forget the Cross. We’ll also be attending First Friday and First Saturday Masses alongside our fun, along with our Sunday obligation, of course.

Because liberty without truth–without Truth–is just a different kind of slavery.

And this world doesn’t need more cheerleaders for a political ideology.

It needs saints. 

It needs salt.

Happy Fourth of July. And may Christ the King reign–in our hearts, in our homes, and yes, one day, even in our country.