Majestically overlooking New York harbor, the Statue of Liberty proclaims these eloquent words: "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to be free . . ." Simple words, yet they ignited passion and determination in every immigrant's heart. To guide the way, America offered the great torch of freedom. From later stories,  even from my own Mother we know many pilgrims did become free, and fulfilled their dreams of a new beginning here in the “land of the free and the brave.”

In a sense, we never stop yearning for freedom and fulfillment. Whether we are poor, rich, or just plain tired, we seek happiness. Happiness is what Jesus died to give us. . Yet in so many ways, we stay spiritually homeless waiting for freedom to happen in our hearts .

Unlike the immigrants who sailed into New York harbor, we expect someone else  to open our new world for us. Yet, it is Jesus and only Jesus who offers the torch, while we provide the passion and determination. With Jesus’ help, all dreams are possible.

As we celebrate soon our American independence, we pray for the hope of world peace especially in this land so enriched by God’s grace remembering these words of St. Francis de Sales:

"God calls us to Himself and is watching to see how we are doing and will never allow anything to happen which is not for our greater good."