Without the Holy Spirit, the Church is lifeless, faith is only doctrine, morality merely a duty, and pastoral work just toil. Yet, with the Spirit, faith is life, God’s love inflames our hearts, and hope is born once again.
The Fourth of July is about celebrating the big, bold, inclusive experiment that is our American democracy. And it has always been an experiment. Our democracy has never been guaranteed, which means we can’t take it for granted. We need to keep fighting for it, keep improving it, and keep making sure it reflects the better angels of our nature instead of the worst. That, more than anything, is what America is all about.