As our nation celebrates its 250th anniversary, I find myself reflecting on the Easter Vigil, the most beautiful liturgy of the Church year, and on a powerful image Eric Metaxas shares in his excellent book- If You Can Keep It; The Forgotten Promise of American Liberty.

Every Easter Vigil begins in darkness. Outside the church, the new fire is blessed. From that fire the Paschal Candle is lit, and the deacon lifts it high, singing, "The Light of Christ." Three times the Church responds, "Thanks be to God." One by one, the faithful light their candles until the darkness is overcome by hundreds of tiny flames. It is a breathtaking reminder that the Risen Christ scatters every darkness, and that His light is never diminished by being shared.

In many Orthodox families, however, the liturgy continues beyond the church doors. They carefully shield that Easter flame from the wind, carry it home through the darkness, and, after offering a prayer, extinguish it against the wooden doorframe above the entrance. Year after year, small black marks remain over the doorway, a quiet testimony that the light of the Resurrection reached that home. But unless the flame has been guarded throughout the journey, there is no mark. The fire must first be protected before it can bless the household.

That image has stayed with me.
It is the Christian life.
It is also the story of America.

Our Founding Fathers disagreed on many things, but they stood remarkably united in one conviction: our liberties come from Almighty God, not from government. They understood that freedom could survive only if sustained by virtue, and virtue by faith. As Alexis de Tocqueville observed nearly two centuries ago, America uniquely joined "the spirit of religion and the spirit of freedom."

Now, on our nation's 250th anniversary, we cannot ignore the winds around us. We increasingly pursue freedom without truth, rights without responsibility, and liberty detached from the God who is its author. The secular culture blows hard against the very flame that gave our nation its moral foundation.

Brothers, as deacons, we know something about carrying a flame.

At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descended as tongues of fire (Acts 2:3). That same divine fire was entrusted to us in Baptism, strengthened in Confirmation, and deepened through Holy Orders. We are not merely administrators of parish life. We are guardians of a sacred fire, called to preach Christ boldly, serve His people joyfully, and carry His light into work spaces, homes, hospitals, jails, chancery offices, and street corners - everywhere.

The Founders entrusted us with a republic. Christ entrusted us with the Gospel.

The republic may endure only if enough citizens keep its moral flame alive. The Gospel will endure forever, but Christ has chosen us to carry its fire into the world.

May our lives leave marks like those darkened Orthodox doorframes: quiet evidence that the Light of Christ has truly passed this way!

"For this reason I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you" (2 Timothy 1:6).

Brothers...let us keep the fire burning.

n Christ the Servant + Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam
Receive + Believe + Teach + Practice