A New Way of Seeing – Freedom Through Mercy

Today we celebrate the Fourth of July, a day that reminds us of the gift and responsibility of freedom. As Americans, we reflect on our nation’s founding ideals: liberty, justice, and the dignity of every person. And it’s fitting that today, on this national holiday, our Gospel passage from Matthew 9:9-13 gives us a powerful reflection on a deeper kind of freedom — the freedom that comes from being seen and loved by Christ.

In the Gospel, Jesus walks by the tax booth and sees Matthew, a man many considered beyond redemption. With just two words — ‘Follow me’ — Jesus changes Matthew’s life forever. That moment is about more than just a career change; it’s about being freed from the labels and judgments the world puts on us. Matthew leaves his old self behind because Jesus looked at him with mercy, with hope, and with love.

And perhaps the most radical part of the story is what happens next: Jesus sits at table with sinners and tax collectors. The Pharisees are scandalized by this, but Jesus responds, ‘Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do… I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ These words are a declaration of spiritual freedom — that God’s grace is not earned by perfect behavior, but freely given to those who open their hearts.

It makes us ask: how do we see others? How do we see ourselves? On this Fourth of July, as we give thanks for our nation’s liberty, we can also ask whether we are free in heart and spirit. Are we stuck in the past, defined by mistakes, negativity, or fear? Do we judge too harshly those around us — or even ourselves?

Is your usual way of looking at things negative or pessimistic? Today, let Jesus invite you to a new way of seeing — through His eyes. Choose to look at persons, things, and events with the eyes of mercy. True freedom is not just about what we are free from, but who we are free to become. Like Matthew, we are free to follow Christ, to walk away from what enslaves us — bitterness, condemnation, even self-doubt — and to step into a life shaped by love.

As we enjoy fireworks, family, and celebration today, may we also thank God for the deeper freedom Christ offers: the freedom to be transformed by mercy, and to see our world not with judgment, but with hope. Happy Independence Day, and may we all respond with courage and joy when Jesus says to us, ‘Follow me.’