First of all, thanks be to God that we have a Faith that is impervious to politics.
Second, I’m grateful that I live in the United States of America. We may not feel very united all the time given some of the deep divides we face in our politics, but we are, still, a single country. We must remember that. We must continue to respect one another, by respecting the dignity of each human person. Respect for one another is the foundation of loving one another — part of the Golden Rule, even if loving our neighbor is challenging, or our love goes unreturned. Our call to love is not based on outcomes. We love, period. Love is hard. Love requires sacrifice.
Third, and the reason I’m writing this post: Regardless of which candidates and laws got voted in last night, our mission as Catholic Christians remains the same as it was before the election: to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ to the ends of earth until the Lord returns.
Over the last few weekends I have had the privilege to be a presenter at different Catholic conferences and parishes. I remain convinced that people need the Lord, and people need to know his love, and we — the Church — are to feed their hunger. After those events, and after this election, I’m even more convinced that this Year of Faith, and our more longterm call to a new evangelization becomes crystal clear. And that word “clear” stays with me. If we want to see change in our culture, it must come from the changes that comes from deeper conversion within each one of us.
Our Catholic mission is clear.
We must make our faith and morals more clear to all Catholics… the faithful in the pews, and the non-practicing ones who still identify as Catholic even if they do not embrace all of the Church’s teachings.
We must make our faith and morals more clear to all non-Catholic Christians… finding points of connection and intersection where we can walk in fellowship and dialogue in sharing this work of renewal and restoration.
We are not alone. We must stay on track. Come what may. If you feel defeated by the changes the election cycle brings, remember our faith is anchored by something greater than a hope in human endeavors. We hope in God alone.
6 comments on “One thing is clear: Our new evangelization mission was never tied to election outcomes.”
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Excellent. EXCELLENT.
Thanks for this timely reflection, Pat. We can all use some good perspective.
I have long loved your name, Bego… it’s short form reminds me that we have to BE close to Christ, so we can GO forth in His name. Thanks for stopping by.
I’ve not posted anything related to politics online; not really my place at this point. But I can tell you that reading your thoughts has given me renewed hope. Thank you for helping me feel better.
Thanks Denyse.
Thank you for your reflection
I am with you as a catholic in your thoughts and sentiments
Although my faith is first and everything to me, my country and love for her is so very important to me, I believe God’s providence gave a hand in American ideals that were beyond what any other country ever experienced before hand. We were handed on a system based on love of God, equality of all, freedom , life, and a chance to succeed. This land is my land and your land. What breaks my heart is the state of souls and the rejection of the moral law that is planted so perfectly in us. Those mislead souls are stealing from us a right, a chance and the God given gift we have been so blessed with. This is why I grieve today, not because my faith is threatened but because God is offended and He said Blessed are those who mourn. I unite that sorrow to Christ in the Agony of the garden. I offer all my sorrows as well as my joys for the salvation of souls, even when I don’t feel like it. This to me is Love.
Lynda, thanks for sharing your thoughts. May our hearts break with the things that break the heart of Christ. Then may we be moved to action.