Sunday Meditation: A Warning to Joe Biden and the Incoming Administration

I will give you the kingdoms of the earth,
if you bow down and worship me.

The Imitation of Mary by Alexander De Rouville offers a warning to Joe Biden on the cusp of his ascending to what is arguably one of the most powerful positions on earth. As a Catholic, one named presumably after the foster father of Jesus, he bears an enormous obligation. His authority comes not really from the voters (and Big Tech) who put him in power, but from God Himself. Since all authority comes from God, Joe would do well to heed these words from The Imitation:

If it is a crime to rob your neighbor of earthly possessions, how much greater a crime to rob him of eternal goods? Then you turn yourself into a messenger and tool of the devil.

All those especially who possess any authority tend to conform to the latter in the way they act.

This obligation lies especially heavy on the great. If such men do not respect the laws of God or the Church, they will be immediately imitated by others. Subjects may even regard it as something to baost about that they follow such example.

Let great men learn from the Virgin Mother of God to use their high position in order to give great glory to God who put them there.

Is earthly greatness to be justification for being less Christian? Of course not! Higher position, if you look at it correctly, only means a greater obligation. 

What, indeed, does it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his own soul? I'm praying to St. Thomas Becket that Joe has an aha moment like Thomas did. If you've ever seen the film with Richard Burton as Thomas Becket and Peter O'Toole as Henry II, you know that Becket was Henry's drinking buddy and partner in lascivious living which is historically true. Thomas warned the king not to name him Archbishop of Canterbury and, in fact, that appointment caused a complete change in the man. 

There are many saints who are transformed by a significant event and for Thomas it was the ecclesiastical appointment. He recognized that his authority came from God not the king. That, friends, is a game changer!

May Joe Biden, despite his obvious senility be awakened enough by the prayers for him and our country, wake up to his spiritual danger and repent. What a tragedy for him personally if walking into the White House is, for him, the vestibule to the Black Hole of Hell. 

Let us pray and do penance begging God that Joe uses his great power for the common good rather than continuing to use power for his own gain and that of his family. Let him not demonstrate Lord Acton's aphorism that "power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely." 

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.

Our Lady, refuge of sinners, pray for us.