My beloved, obedient as you have always been, not only when I am present but all the more now when I am absent, work out your salvation with fear and trembling. For God is the one who, for his good purpose, works in you both to desire and to work.Do everything without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation,among whom you shine like lights in the world, as you hold on to the word of life,
so that my boast for the day of Christ may be that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. But, even if I am poured out as a libation upon the sacrificial service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with all of you. In the same way you also should rejoice and share your joy with me.Phil 2:12-18
Many of you may have been hoping for Mitt Romney (or at
least the Republicans) to win the election.
You look at the Democratic approach to life issues, health care, and economics,
and foresee a grim four years ahead. I’m
not about to minimize the real possibility it is going to be grim. I can feel it too, that we are in perilous
times. I can see there has been a shift in the moral tone. But now is not the time to roll up the prayer carpet! Now is not the time to
despair. Do not forget that your prayers are efficacious and greatly needed
“We must believe in no
one but God: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.” (CCC 178)
Let us not rest our hope in one man over another. God can – and does – work through all of
us. Let us offer Him our hands and feet,
our minds and hearts to do His work. Let’s remember to trust that Christ is
present among us, and that God’s promises will not fail. Without flagging, let’s
continue to teach and form our children to be virtuous and holy. We will be steadfast in bringing the light of Christ
into the marketplace, into our offices and classrooms. We will be the love of
Christ to our friends and family, and even the cranky old man who grumbles at
how much space our family takes up at Church.
“Pray, hope, and do not worry” (Padre Pio)
We do not know what circumstances, what events lie ahead of
us. What we do know is that God always
brings about good for those who love Him. We do know that what is True, Good,
and Beautiful will hold sway. We do know that Christ has already won the
victory for us.
Please, women of the world, continue to pray!
Great post, Tess. Thank you for words of hope when it is so easy to throw in the towel and say, To hell with it all! In Fr. Hattie's words, "God has seen fit to allow the persecution of the American church to begin." Such things set priorities straight.
ReplyDeleteI thank you for your words Tess. Yes, there was beaucoup discouragement the morning after the elections, but strangely, I felt at peace. At peace that I did my part in trying to bring about a society that thought not of itself but of others, especially those that are awaiting life in this world. Perhaps the fear I feel also, is a fear that collectively as a country, God will judge us as we deserve such as he did with ancient Israel at times. Perhaps judge is the wrong word, but certainly discipline as a corrective measure of our wayward ways. Are we having a glimpse of a world that Augustine lived in, when his own civilization was in shambles? Perhaps, and if so, then we are not the first to live our lives for Christ in a chaotic society, nor will we be the last. Somehow, that gives me solace knowing that others before us and the Church has experienced this many times before and yet she stands to this day. You once said Tess and I paraphrase, that we already know who is the victor and how all of this turns out, but it is the in between things we have to deal with that makes our faith weak at times.
ReplyDeleteAnd again, you are right in saying that the work is not done. Actually we have more work to do in this bleakness we find ourselves in and I believe I am ready to roll up my sleeves and get to work, with the grace of God. Your words were very much needed. Thank you
beautiful post Tricia :-)
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