Put no trust in princes, in children of Adam powerless to   save. Who breathing his last, returns to the earth; that day all his planning comes to nothing.Psalm 146:3-4

There is a lot of post election blues and even some anger in the pews. This is not reserved to the more Republican than Catholic crowd. I have encountered strong emotions among those who have a strong Catholic identity and have no party loyalty.

They just feel helpless living in a culture that is rapidly sliding into a moral sewer and that is isolating those who strive to live a life in obedience to Christ.

These faithful Catholics hoped that the Republicans were truly pro-life contrary to the mounting evidence.

But Jesus is the only reason for our hope. To put our faith in earthly princes is pure folly. The only way to bring about peace and justice based on the dignity of the human person is to proclaim the Gospel to everyone that we encounter.

To do this we must love. Muscular, self-giving sacrificial, and heroic Christian love. We must love with joy. This is impossible, of course, without God’s grace.

I am a long way from loving like a true disciple.

So I find myself on my knees praying for a loving heart and the courage to truly live the Gospel in the world without retreating into an interior hermitage.

It is not going to be easy. Our political system is becoming more and more fractured. The divisions are becoming insurmountable.

As Mark Shea writes:

“American politics often seems to boil down to the same two groups of enemies shouting “My rights!” “Dead children!” and then switching sides depending on whose ox is being gored. Sometimes, to spice things up, they switch to calling each other Hitler.”

Jesus prayed that we would be in the world, but not of the world for a reason.

Note: the picture above is of a tee shirt that will soon be on sale here.  I would by one, but somehow I don’t think that it will help to change hearts.