Jesus told the Pharisees to "render to Caesar" recognizing the legitimacy of government despite the character of its leaders. The Roman tyrant and local leaders at the time were evil, and those who followed them were even worse! Think of Nero lighting his gardens with Christians covered in pitch. In the early centuries of the Church the emperor and his minions would carry out the most barbaric persecutions imaginable.
In the Old Testament God used another sinner, Cyrus, to save the nation and rebuild the temple. He was no saint either! It is the lot of we who live in the Valley of Tears to suffer with flawed and sinful leaders.
Fr. Gordon MacRae and Fr. John Perricone put our current electoral situation in perspective discussing both the situation under Cyrus and the New Testament barbarism of Rome. Read their articles and realize that God often uses seriously sinful people to carry out His will, and, yes, save nations. I present below, excerpts from these two excellent articles.
When God Deployed a Sinner to Save a Nation by Fr. Gordon MacRae (a portion of the article which I recommend reading in full):
...no one but Isaiah could have predicted that, for the Jews in exile, Cyrus would turn out to be more of a liberator than a conqueror. He practiced no religious faith that the Jews could recognize. He lived a lifestyle with values deplorable to them. But this disruptor of no faith at all turned out to develop deep respect for theirs.
Cyrus restored the Kingdom of Israel, ordered his armies to rebuild Jerusalem and the Temple, declared an end to slavery and oppression, and established a charter to protect Religious Liberty. The Book of the Prophet Ezra contains the entire Decree of Cyrus guaranteeing Religious Liberty for the Jews and protecting it throughout the Persian Empire. But Cyrus himself never changed.
The Prophet Isaiah certainly never envisioned anyone like Donald Trump leading an America in rapid religious decline. He is notorious for living in a manner understandably anathema to Evangelical Christians, and yet he has also come to be seen as a Cyrus-like defender of Religious Liberty. No president in modern times has done more to protect and defend Religious Freedom.
So let me repeat myself, please. If the “Not My President” crowd is horrified as though I wrote this post wearing a MAGA hat and a “Not My Impeachment” T-shirt, this is not a matter of like or dislike. It is a matter of truth and its various distortions that today pass as journalism and broadcast news, and I am not willing to hand my Truth over to them.
A little perspective is always a good thing. This candidate’s moral past, his former overused Twitter account, and his novel approach to both foreign policy and the swamp of contemporary politics pale next to the moral decline of a nation that has terminated the lives of sixty-two million future citizens.
Fr. John Perricone, Crisis Magazine -- "Render Unto Caesar..." To Vote or Not to Vote
No Catholic is permitted to surrender the duty of his citizenship to a sullen despair, exaggerated analyses of decline, idiosyncratic critiques of democracy, or a cynical secession from his duties. If defeat ensues upon his vote, then he must plan and strategize so that the next outcome will be better.
For good Catholics, defeats do not justify throwing up our hands in despair but, instead, throwing up our hands in prayer.
The prayer that God may grant is the light to see more clearly the path to victory next time. In the classic words of T.S. Eliot in his Notes Towards the Definition of Culture: “There are never any permanent defeats; nor are there any permanent victories.” Well put. Our life here on earth is the lot of poor sinners in a valley of tears. The only permanent victory is praising the Blessed Trinity in Heaven.
The time for voting is almost upon us. Catholics will fulfill their obligations to the Fourth Commandment, walk to the polls, and cast their vote. Or they should. As they do, they will be showing God that they have accomplished all in their power to insure the good of their country with which God has blessed them. Even with all their doubts, they vote. And leave the rest in the hands of God.
As Catholics vote, they must bear in mind that no candidate (as with any country) is ever perfect. Never forget Psalm 146: “Put not your trust in princes.” Sometimes the only choice a Catholic enjoys is to vote for the candidate who will do the least harm to God’s moral law and the rights of His Holy Catholic Church. Seems like a meager morsel of bread, but a morsel nonetheless.
Keep in mind, as well, that old philosophical axiom: good is not the enemy of best.
If you saw Harris speaking yesterday at the Elipse you heard her say Trump would jail the opposition. Wait! Isn't that what the Democrats do? Many peaceful protesters are still in jail after the January 6th protests where government agents infiltrated the crowd. Two Trump supporters are dead killed by Capitol police. The lies about January 6th continue.
And what about using the "justice" system to impose draconian sentences on peaceful protesters offering help to women seeking abortions? Where are the Antifa/BLM thugs who torched our cities, injured and murdered police and others during the riots, and destroyed businesses with billions of dollars in looting and vandalism? Harris bailed them out, so they could go out and continue their attack on the country.
Frankly, I expect Harris to win. The Democrats with their media flying monkeys have fomented so much hate against Trump and are so good at cheating that I expect the worst. And she will be that for sure. But perhaps that's what we deserve and I will never despair because nothing "just happens." We live according to God's Providence and if He allows it, it's because He loves us. As they say, "There are no atheists in a foxhole." Maybe we need a good long spell in the foxhole to come to our senses.
Remember that, "All things work together for good to those who love the Lord and serve according to His purpose." So love God, immerse yourself in His sacred heart, and pray the rosary.
Thank you much Mary Ann. I've been firmly in the 'no vote, not participating in this evil' camp for quite some time. This *MAY* change my mind.
ReplyDelete