Dear Family,
I am starting this Twitch on primary day. Voting is a happy convenience for me; all I have to do is walk across the courtyard from the office to the parish hall to vote. St. Sebastian hosts not one, but three polling places.
Over the years my polling places haven’t been that convenient. I even remember voting absentee ballot from Rome. Nevertheless, I have rarely missed an election. Is this the moment when you start to hear patriotic music playing in the background? Corny, but you know what? Bring it on.
Meriam-Webster’s definition of democracy: government by the people especially : rule of the majority.
In my mind, voting is one way of trying to deal with fragmentation in our society. If that’s sounds strange, consider this.
At the last supper Jesus prayed for His disciples, “... that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me.” (John 17:21)
For his disciples, Jesus saw that unity was a necessary requirement for being able to undertake the mission. The unity wasn’t in style or language, or territory, but in a single purpose: to focus on the journey to eternal life, and to give the apostles – the sent ones, all the skills they needed to accomplish it, wherever and however and whatever the situation required.
What does our civil life require? By definition, a democracy requires participation. Voting lets me be a part of a process of building a society with mutual respect as its basis. Long before I get to issues and policies and personalities, I want to be encouraged by surroundings that value my presence and contributions. In today’s political atmosphere, that sure can be difficult.
I think the gospel calls us to be of one mind and one heart, not one political party. The freedom to choose freely on earth gives us an opportunity to practice choosing heaven. Is that too far a stretch? I hope not. That’s my approach and I’m sticking with it.
Making choices among all the candidates can be very difficult. A particular candidate may have views that both agree and disagree with my own. What to do? Well, for one thing I know I spend a little time in prayer, maybe more than a little time.
Do you remember the very first words of the readings we heard at Mass this weekend? The book of Sirach said:
“My child, conduct your affairs with humility, and you will be loved more than a giver of gifts.”
I guess it’s kind of hard to expect a politician who has a need to be seen and heard to be humble. And yet, I think some do it. In their humility they seem to know that what they are seeking to do in being elected is a privilege and a ‘sacred’ trust. That helps me want to ‘entrust’ them with making laws and judging cases and all the myriad of challenges they face.
I said I spent time in prayer. Before they are elected, I’m praying I make a good choice. After they are elected, I am praying they will make good choices.
Anything we can do as a community to help one another in the process of electing leaders is something we should value.
It’s funny how you’ll hear people talking about the separation of church and state. Don’t forget your history. It comes from religious leaders dictating choices. For us, I think we need to be instruments for promoting discussion, to wit our Sept. 28th candidate forum. See you there.
In Jesus,
