David Ancell / Saturday, September 21, 2024 / Comments(0)
We often hear about politicians acting like they will be the savior of society. All we have to do is elect them, and there will be the most peace and prosperity that we have ever seen in our lives or even in generations. You may even hear the same message among many supporters of a particular candidate.
Honestly, I feel sorry for the people who actually believe this every time about a politician. Then again, does anybody? It seems that, even if not, many have high hopes for a certain leader. However, it should be pretty clear that no politician is the savior of the world. That one has already come, and he wasn’t a politician.
Even getting major improvements in our country seems like a long shot. We are way too self absorbed in our culture to breed, much less elect, a leader with the character to do those things right now. Besides, the real fulfillment of hope in our country will be found in things that simply cannot be legislated. It won’t even work if we could try.
However, nearly every time I see the fact that politicians are not saviors presented, it sounds to me like an excuse not to care about political things. So, let me just state that our voice in elections really does matter. The right politician may not be a savior, but the wrong one can really, really mess things up. If we haven’t understood that by now, I’m afraid we won’t until it’s too late, if even then. So, even if you don’t imagine a candidate for a political office is going to do a lot of good, just realize that it may be that the reason for supporting a candidate is to keep the other one from bringing disaster on us.
Category: Response
David Ancell / Thursday, September 12, 2024 / Comment(1)
I have seen some social media posts on my feed from people who have found out they have terminal cancer and not too long to live. May I send out a bit of a reminder here? When you see these things, it’s a great opportunity to do a small but very beneficial act of charity to pray for that person and his or her family. You may not even remember them again, but nothing like this that you send to the ears of Our Lord will be wasted.
I know nothing about the people whose posts I saw. That doesn’t matter. It costs me so little to pray for them, and it may be what helps them be ready to meet God if they are not healed in this life. Maybe you’ll run across a post like this from someone whom you know to have led a life of sin. We should especially pray for these people. What if our prayers meant their salvation? No matter what someone has done, it is very difficult, if not impossible, to reconcile not desiring their salvation with Christian charity. Besides, our only hope is in the grace of God.
I make it a point also to pray for the souls of anyone about whose death I hear, even if I have no idea who they are or if I know them to be a manifest public sinner. Even if they are already in Heaven or have gone to Hell, I know that my prayer is not wasted and will be used somehow.
Category: Spirituality