Right now, There’s a lot I don’t know about on the morning of Wednesday, November 4. I don’t know what’s going to happen after the election. Honestly, I don’t even know if we’ll know on the morning of November 4th if we’ll know who’s been elected president of the U.S.
But there are a few things that I do know: I know that God is sovereign and Lord of all no matter who wins the election.
[And I know that] the greatest problems in our country are not political. They’re moral. They’re spiritual. If we think politics is going to fix all of our ills, we need to think again.
Each once of us needs to place God in the center of our lives. Christ needs to once again take His rightful place in the center of our lives. Ask yourself, How have I added to the hate, the division, the anger in the country and in the Church?
The evil one wants to take advantage of the outcome of the election – no matter who wins. He wants to stir in our hearts anger, discouragement, pride, or arrogance. We can’t let that happen.
Jesus says we need to love our neighbor and pray for our enemies; we may have many more opportunities for that, come Wednesday morning. We can be kind in what we say and what we post. Practice patience and charity.
-transcribed from YouTube video (below).
It would be nice if God would do a little more on his end to fix the Church and the world. There’s only so much a small number of faithful Catholics can do, and there’s a limit to how much many of them will put up with. Trust means we wait and believe and put in effort, and then something good happens, caused by God. It’s a two-way street. So far I only see things going one way, and I’m tired of it. God can do something about Pope Francis, but he doesn’t. Until that gets fixed, it’s hard for me to accept that God’s keeping his end of the bargain. And if Biden and the Democrats control the federal government and steamroll all kinds of abortion, transgender, gay, anti-religion legislation through the government that will cause so much more evil and suffering for God’s faithful in American society, well… it will be very hard to accept that God keeps his promises or that he’s answering the prayers of his people.
Kevin T to God: “Hey God, what have YOU done for ME lately anyway?!”
Good ol’ reliable Kevin T.
Thanks for the laugh. I needed it.
Seems a fair question these days. Are you happy with Francis? He can’t be impeached, so it’s up to God to remove him.
And, pray will you do when Pope Tagle is elected next after God “removes” Francis.
You and Kevin need to nut up. Listen to holy Catholic men and be men.
We are the times: as we are, such are the times.
(Nos sumus tempora: quales sumus, talia sunt tempora.)
– St. Augustine
The times are evil because men are evil. Men must become good in order for the times to become good.
(Mala sunt tempora, quia mali sunt homines. Debent homines fieri boni, ut bona fiant et tempora.)
-Pope Pius XII
Do not be vexed at the contradictions you meet in ordinary intercourse, for they give an opportunity to practice the most precious and amiable virtues, which Our Lord has recommended to us. Believe me that true virtue is no more reared in outward repose, than good fish in the stagnant water of a swamp. How shall we prove our love for God, who has suffered so much for us, if not among contradictions and repugnances?
–— St. Francis de Sales
Do something today. Go to Mass, pray, spend and hour with out Euchristic Lord, make a good examen and go to confession. Fast, Mortification.
Or, keep waiting for God to fix things.
The something good that happens is you die and go to heaven. This is the valley of tears, remember? You are way too into the world and probably spend way too much time on the Internet.
Bravo! I agree with you 100%. People who support the stealing of an election are not people I want in my life. As Jesus said, shake the dust from your feet and move on from those who reject His message, from those who choose dishonesty, cheating and arrogance.
I have no and never will have love for Marxist thugs….
Ask yourself, How have I added to the hate, the division, the anger in the country and in the Church? Guilty on all counts… hated and anger towards evil is no vice, division purifies the Church
Thank you for posting this. May we heed Fr, Dave’s words (and, infinitely more importantly, as he would agree, the words of our Lord).
From Focus on the Family:
In an illuminating report, Reuters interviewed Americans who have had their family relations damaged because of who they cast their vote for in 2020 and other elections.
Mayra Gomez, who is described as a lifelong Democrat, lost her relationship with her son when she announced her decision to vote for President Donald Trump in 2020. She tells Reuters that she likes his handling of illegal immigration and the economy.
“He specifically told me, ‘You are no longer my mother, because you are voting for Trump’,” Gomez, 41 said to Reuters. “The damage is done. In people’s minds, Trump is a monster. It’s sad. There are people not talking to me anymore, and I’m not sure that will change.”
For those of us who are Catholic (or from any tradition of Christianity), do we really believe in unconditional love (or merely give it lip service)?
(For those of you who may wonder: loving someone does not mean agreeing with them or compromising the truth, yet, it does mean loving them.)
The Church doesn’t teach unconditonal love. Love for enemies, yes, but not unconditional love.
I’m open to “hearing” more.
What conditions do you place on loving others, if your love for them is not unconditional?
When are we permitted to stop loving others?
LIke God’s unconditional love (only to an infinitely smaller degree), it does not exclude justice.
And, where in Church teaching is the basis for your conditions to love?
Thank you.
In my experience, what people who say they want unconditional love really want is indulgence. I think if you have ever had a substance abuser in your family, you know how this can be used to cause guilt and shame. Emotionally immature people say “You don’t love me” to manipulate others. Also a lot of people say they love you unconditionally but they are just messing with you.
It seems we may not be in disagreement, if we’re agreeing that love does not mean enabling others in their sins, addictions or other dysfunctional behaviors.
Fr. Dave
I suggest you go to the next Antifa riot and share your message with them.
Andrew, did you listen to what he said?
It’s not only Antifa thugs who say and post inappropriate things.
What is it that he said to which you object?
For those of us who are Catholic (or from any tradition of Christianity), do we really believe in unconditional love –Honest answer no
Bo, That’s not true. Many others and I believe in unconditional love. We just don’t practice it well. Only God loves unconditionally perfectly (while being absolutely just at the same time!).
Shouldn’t we be striving to restore His likeness in us, men and women made in His image, and be more like Him?
Amen, Andrew. Loud and clear.
Look, even millennial Catholics I know who are ardently orthodox and devout and prefer the Latin Mass are wondering after this election where they can go to be safe and what they can do for themselves and their families and where God is. Everything is falling apart, and prayers aren’t being answered. Some friends of mine in Colorado are aghast that 60% of people there voted in favor of abortion up until birth. I don’t mind being slammed by those who are naive instead of looking at the world as it is. What is God doing that is making a difference? Answer that. If it’s all up to us, then what is God good for? It’s supposed to be a cooperation with God. Well, what’s he doing on his end? Phony Catholic Biden is on the cusp of being president and will bring tremendous evil to our country. Francis is corrupting the Church as pope. God’s ways are above our ways, sure, but they should make some sense. Right now they don’t make any sense.
I believe in God. I have faith in God. I love God. Jesus, please forgive Kevin and give him all the graces he needs to get to Heaven.
Oh, ye of little faith, you need a talk with the prophet Job. I suggest you make a novena asking his intercession.
Amen, Andrew. Loud and clear.
Today, I had chills running up and down my spine, thinking of a scenario with Joe Biden as President, and then, if something ever happened to him, as he is nearly age 80— with possible memory loss issues, too!– as well as questionable involvement, along with his family, in some weird foreign fiascos! The “horror” of a “President Kamala Harris” in the White House, would be almost unbearable! Then, I thought of something even worse! Where does Speaker Pelosi stand, in the Presidential line-of-succession?? Is she “Number 3??” And you know– sometimes a President gets impeached, for bad behavior! I almost died, thinking of a possible “President Nancy Pelosi” in the White House! May God help us! What will the Catholic Church make of a “bad Catholic” “President Biden,” or “President Pelosi”– in the White House??? Well, we all will make it through the very worst, if we must, by the grace of God! Our poor country!!
Well, I found out, it is really true– Speaker Nancy Pelosi is actually 2nd-in-line, to become President, if the President dies or is impeached, and the Vice-President cannot replace him! Second-in-line!! (I had previously counted wrong.) That is too much for me to endure! While the Catholic Church hails her as a “Catholic” President– as they will no doubt do, if Biden gets elected!! Here comes Cardinal Dolan– or Cardinal Gregory– to do the honors!!
If Joe Biden wins the election, I bet Notre Dame will recognize him as an “outstanding Catholic”— the “second Catholic U.S. President,” in our history– and award him the prestigious “Laetare Medal.” (JFK was also awarded a Laetare Medal.) What a big mess that would be!
What the election has shown is that the nation is divided: 50-50. We knew it but the ballots proved it. So, what are we to do? We can hate our neighbor or we can love our neighbor. We can bad-mouth our fellow Catholics or we can be nice to them. We can … well the list goes on. We are not a religion with only a few true believers, but one with millions of believers in this country and billions worldwide. Let’s remember that getting to heaven is a journey over time. No one is 100% orthodox on the day they are born. When we get up each morning we should ask ourselves if we still believe there is a God. Hopefully, the answer will be yes. If not, we have work to do. Those who constantly tell us how horrible we are will drive us away. Those who embrace us and welcome us as we are will bring us to the truth.
Bob One, our first duty is to God, and His Kingdom, which is not of this world. Christ is our true King! We must help Him establish His Kingdom on earth, enduring all that we must, for His sake, praying for those in darkness who do Him wrong, and oppose His Kingdom.. We will celebrate the Feast of Christ the King soon, right before Advent, on Nov. 22nd.
God said the greatest commandment is to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. That is one way you do your duty to God and His Kingdom. If we don’t love someone, then we don’t love ourselves.
Christ told us to love God first. We should be loving to ourselves and to others– for the sake of Christ! To see Christ in all! We must help Him to build His Kingdom. His Kingdom is not of this world– it is not ours, it is all His! It is exquisitely beautiful! It is not built on human psychology principles of “human relating,” although this field is very helpful. God’s Kingdom is spiritual, pure, non-egoistic, not based on our human emotions and needs. It is Divine, just based on God. The Catechism states that the final goal of the Christian, is the full indwelling of the Blessed Trinity in the soul. We are so tiny, made of “dust of the earth,” and as St. Paul said, “we have this treasure in earthen vessesls, to show that this all-surpassing power is from God, and not from us.” (2 Corinthians 4-7)
I love to read St. Paul, because he is so good at showing you how to live the Christian life, in very practical ways! For example, how to “die to self, so that Christ may live in me.” (Galatians 2:20) Christ’s teachings are not easy, but St. Paul clearly explains them.