What does it mean to be an American? This is an appropriate question to ask as we celebrate the 250^th Anniversary of the United States of America.

 

There are various possible responses. To be an American means to be a native born or naturalized citizen. It means to cherish life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. It means to pledge allegiance to the flag and to the republic for which it stands. It means voting, paying taxes, and being ready to defend the country against its enemies.

 

To be an American means being part of a culture that values individualism, creativity, hard work, and sets no limits to personal ambition. It means viewing fireworks on July 4 and Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in November, watching the Super Bowl, eating a burger at McDonald’s, and never being without your cell phone.

 

But the most common answer might be: to be an American means to be free. It means to be free to express your opinions and ideas, to worship as you choose, to live where you want, and to raise your children as you think proper. Or as many people might put it, to be an American means being free to do what you want, when you want.

 

Yet on this weekend that celebrates our being free to decide the course of our lives, Sunday’s Gospel (Matthew 11:25-30) speaks about following directions and limits to freedom.

 

Jesus tells us, "Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light."

 

Jesus tells us that we find rest, contentment, fulfillment, and peace in our lives by using the freedom we enjoy to grow in our relationship with him, to learn from him, and to let his example and words guide us. If we allow Jesus to direct our lives, we avoid using our freedom in ways that lead us into sinful behaviors that diminish our dignity as children of God.

 

This weekend, as we celebrate the freedom that is ours as Americans, we are reminded that true freedom is found not in doing whatever we want, but rather by doing what Jesus has taught – by loving God and loving our neighbor. "Come to me…learn from me…and you will find rest for ourselves.”

 

© 2026 Rev. Thomas Iwanowski