07/04/2026
“The Neighbor”
America at 250 Years
“Do justice, … love kindness, … walk humbly with your God. ~ Micah 6: 8
Beloved,
As we commemorate the 250th Anniversary of the United States of America, I am reminded that this milestone is both a profound achievement and a blessed privilege. Like movements for independence through history, America’s founding is marked and shaped by an enduring desire for freedom and justice for all people.
The noble ideals of freedom and Justice find their fullest expression when we embrace the Gospel values exemplified by Jesus in the story of the Good Samaritan, the neighbor. Then, as now, true freedom and justice are realized through compassion and a genuine commitment to the well-being of one another. The road toward a more just society begins with our willingness to become a neighbor to those in need.
The promise of America has always been more than a declaration written on parchment; it is a sacred responsibility entrusted from one generation to the next. Each generation is called to examine whether this freedom, this justice, is truly experienced by all who come within the reach of our embrace. Each of us should ask whether these principles are merely ideals we admire or values we practice, pursue, and uphold.
This 250th anniversary invites us not only to remember the courage and vision of those who sought independence, but to renew our commitment to building a nation where human dignity, freedom, and justice are extended to every person.
May we live with compassion, serve the common good, and strive always to be good neighbors.
May God bless America and grant her the light of justice and the blessings of freedom.
With prayers and thanksgiving on the 250th Anniversary, I am,
Faithfully,
The Right Reverend John T.W. Harmon
Bishop of Arkansas
