This morning I sat next to the men’s Bible study group,
which meets in the local coffee shop.
Toward the end of their Bible discussion, they began to talk about the
upcoming election and voting. The group
leader mentioned that he likely will vote early, being out of town next week,
but that he wasn’t sure he would bother to vote. “I’ve come to believe that it doesn’t make a
difference.” His words just depressed
me. Oh, I won’t write here about what
the Bible says about participation in the public life and witnessing to our
faith, but it seems so very basic to me.
Is my faith practiced behind closed doors or lived out and witnessed in
public? And if I won’t witness to what I
say I believe, do I really REALLY believe it?
Especially in these days, when so many would prohibit me from living my
faith in public, I don’t really understand how someone can think voting does
not make a difference. Must they be
thrown in jail for their beliefs before they would say: “Hey! Something is
wrong here. We should do something!”? Or if jail were a prospect, would they just deny
their faith?
Coming home, I happened to read Fr. John Riccardo’s weekly
message to his parish. And I felt sad
again. This man, this man of faith and a
great public witness for the Catholic Church, seems to be questioning himself,
even as the bible study group leader did:
“Does it matter?” In his weekly
message he speaks to the people of his parish --- and really to all of us ---
asking us to take our faith seriously. He
gives examples of many who do not. He
talks those who took vows, promises before God, to raise their children
according to the laws of Christ and His Church, yet don’t take them to
mass. He recognizes the trials of being
parents and their busy lives, but still he asks: Did you mean what you promised God?
Fr. John is a man who does not spend Sunday homily’s talking
about the local football game, nor preaching “nice” sermons. He tells the truth, even if it is hard to
hear, and even if it makes some think: “You’re pointing a finger at me.” He views his job as making people think. While Father John’s words were positive in
tone, I could not help but wonder at his feelings behind the words, his
self-image. Does he sometimes ask
himself: Am I making a difference? Yet, as the message he wrote demonstrates,
even as some ignore him (or God), even as some talk against him, and perhaps even
as he looks at the results of his work and grades himself only a “C,” still he
will not give up. Like the Good Shepherd,
even if one is lost, he will deem it important that he go out and seek him ---
calling even if they cannot hear, calling even if they choose not to hear.
You might take his words and let your local priest or
minister read them, to give them the courage to speak the truth, even when it
doesn’t want to be heard.
Please pray for our country and this election. Please pray for our religious leaders.
You can find the full text of Fr. John’s message to his
parish here (page 6 of the October 28 Bulletin): http://www.catholicweb.com/bulletins/59371/Oct-28-2012.pdf
Hi Tom,
ReplyDeletesorry to be the bearer of bad news, but the link you provided did not take me to the message. I had to do some real thinking to see if I could get to it. I did,finally. For some reason, I thought his message would pertain to the subject of your post - responsible voting. I, too, am grieved by those who give up, and don't vote saying it doesn't make any difference.
What do you say to a person who takes that stance? I found myself helpless this morning in a conversation where I stated that it is our Christian duty and our civic duty to vote. Not every country offers that priviledge. I'd hate to think how I would feel if I failed to vote, and later was denied that right. My words fell on deaf ears I'm afraid.
Your parish is very fortunate to have Fr. John leading souls in the right direction. May the Lord give us more of his ilk.
I see you point, and your confusion, Maryellen. But I guess my post is a poor witness from one who admonishes: Do Not Be Anxious. The facts of my day were just as I posted them, first MY concern after the men at the Bible study group, and then MY concerns over Fr. John's message. Note that the two topics were about MY concerns.
ReplyDeleteVirtually always, posts on this blog are written in the adoration chapel. They are thoughts which interrupt my prayers --- or perhaps answers to them. The point being, however, that they are not things I wish to write or plan to write about. They are thoughts thrust upon me, not at my bidding. But last Friday, two events led me to be anxious, and not turning to prayer or waiting for when I was alone with God again, I had to vent my emotions, and so I wrote an emotional posting. Me and my thoughts --- big deal! No wonder it came across as a rambling and confusing post. Those are my thoughts, in my anxieties.
I shall try to have more faith in the future, faith in Him, not me.
Hi Tom.
ReplyDeleteI keep forgetting to 'subscribe by email' when I leave a comment and that's why I don't see your replies.
I'm glad that you explained again why you write what what you write. If I can remember that, I'll be better able to go with the Holy Spirit when I read your posts. In fact, your explanation tells me that I should pray before I read anything to see what God wants to say to me.
No problem. My niece just sent me a number of comments by email. She says she can't read all those letters crammed together in order to leave a comment, so she guesses she must be a robot.
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