Dear Parishioners:
As I write this column, Election Day 2020 is upon us. And like everything else about 2020, it is very different from past election days where the campaign season ended with citizens exercising their sacred duty at the ballot box. No matter the results, we entrust all to the Lord. Amid the social unrest, political division, and living in a continuing pandemic, we might lose hope. However, I recall the words of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI in his encyclical Deus Caritas:
"There are times when the burden of need and our limitations might tempt us to become discouraged. But precisely then, we are helped by the knowledge that, in the end, we are only instruments in the Lord's hands. This knowledge frees us from the presumption of thinking that we alone are personally responsible for building a better world. In all humility, we will do what we can, and in all humility, we will entrust the rest to the Lord."
The social unrest and ideological combat across our nation have sparked fear and doubt about our future over the past eight months. Painful divisions have wounded families, parishes, and friendships. Social trust has broken down as the pandemic and lockdowns have further loosened the bonds of the community. Many Americans are in economic distress, many others suffer from sickness, and thousands grieve for those who have died. What are we to do?
Perhaps the most critical action we as Catholics can take after this election is to "love one another." This election has divided and challenged even well-formed Catholics. Incivility towards neighbors and intolerance of differing ideas replace political debate and civil discourse. There can be no future for our nation if love grows cold, especially our love for the innocent unborn child and the terminally ill patient, for the migrant and the prisoner, for victims of racism, hatred, violence, and the poor. Across the country, love is growing colder, while anger seems only to grow more heated.
We are all responsible for what happens after this election but most especially we Catholics, for we are expressly commanded by Jesus Christ to love others — from our enemies to our neighbors. Love is a non-negotiable, and only love can defeat the unrest and violence in people's hearts. It is a profound love for each person made in the image of God, a love for our political enemies, and a love for our country. Only this love can prevent disorder and help establish true justice and peace. This love starts at home, in our hearts, and it must begin with our complete obedience to what Jesus commands us.
We are a divided, polarized, and fragmented society. No election will quickly or easily repair the torn fabric of American culture. Therefore, our calling as Catholics is not to consider the election as a finished affair. But instead to continue to bear witness to our faith following Christ's commands. Regardless of the elections' outcome, this is a moment to personally embrace the cardinal virtues and live them in our daily lives. We need to be actively engaged in the ongoing search for building up a peaceful and just society. Our mission of defending human dignity, the sanctity of human life, and exercising religious freedom does not end with any election. We must renew and reinvigorate it and make it more robust.
Our public institutions reflect the values and habits of the American people. To renew them, we need to seek our conversion and strengthen our virtues. We must daily convert our lives more fully to Christ. We know as a people of faith that politics is never the ultimate end. It is not the cause of our hope, and it is not the final aim of our lives. Jesus Christ is Our Lord. At this time, perhaps more than ever, we must bear witness to this saving truth. We must entrust our nation, our future, and our lives to the Lord.
On Veterans Day, we pay tribute to all who have served our country in the military as we offer prayer and thanksgiving for so many veterans' sacrifice. We celebrate our freedom and liberty. It is a time of unity and pride for our nation. Happy Veterans Day! Stay safe. Be Well. Do Good! God Bless.