"Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brethren, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but one thing I do, forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."
Paul's letter to the Philippians 3: 7-14
The second reading from the Fifth Sunday of Lent. It gave me great comfort hearing it at Mass, what with all the battle over the health care debate raging across our nation. "Straining forward to what lies ahead".
I'm not discounting the deleterious effect this legislation will have on our country, our lives and the lives of future generations. I'm not ignoring the fact that our nation hurtles towards a type of oppression and tyranny that few ever thought possible could ever happen in America. I'm not stating that the fight against evil is pointless, or even unnecessary. I'm not suggesting that the struggle to end abortion and to promote a culture of life is unimportant. Not in the least, and not on your life.
But the undeniable truth is this; this is the bigger picture: straining forward to what lies ahead - and that is our salvation.
It's easy to lose hope in the dream that is America. It's tempting to only fight for the values and ideals that make this country great. It's easy to rise up in anger over what's happening in our legislature right now -and it would not be wrong to do so.
But it'd be better to fall down to our knees in prayer. It'd be better to maintain and strengthen our hope in Christ Jesus. It'd be better to fight for Christian values and Catholic ideals - to win the hearts and minds of those who are hardened against true life, true liberty and authentic pursuit of happiness.
I love this country, and it sickens me to see the direction in which it's being dragged. I worry about future opportunities for my sons, and my nieces and nephews. Heck - I'm only 44, and I worry about opportunities for myself too! But at the same time, I need to encourage them (and myself!) to cling to solid things. A rock to hang onto. And that rock is the Church, and that solid sure thing is not a thing after all, but a person. That person is Christ Jesus.
On Saturday, I read at The Anchoress a passage that cut through the fog of political battle like a beam of light from the safe haven of a far off lighthouse. She was recounting something one of her friends had told her, and it brought the current blur of bureaucratic bluster into clear focus:
. . .when the Bush-Gore recount battle was going on, I asked my parish priest, a very wise man who loves Christ, how to discern God’s will. I wasn’t asking so much for his opinion on the politics of the day but when I am in one of these political battles and a religious person, can I discern God’s will in the course of trying to decide whether I should write letters, call my Congressperson, or whatever?
His simple answer was “God’s will will always be for the salvation of the individual involved.”
So I try every day now to pray for the salvation of the president, all members of Congress, and the American people. I cast my cares upon the Lord.
We are in a deeper battle here, which you well know . . . I also think in the end this all has to do with the salvation of souls, including the souls of our president and these politicians who deign to rule over the rest of us. I think we who believe must hold fast to Christ, the True Center, and bring as many along with us as possible.
We are in a deeper battle, that is true. The quest for power over power within the halls of government represents a failure, in my opinion, of some of our elected class to Do What Jesus Did, when Lucifer tempted him with all the kingdoms of the world: "All these can be yours..." While I'm not implying that any of them have knelt before the Lord of Darkness, we have to remember that Satan is king of the world, at least for a little while. Whatever power he has, it's permitted by Almighty God. But we must never forget: the power He has given us far surpasses any power Satan believes he wields.
What has God given us? The power of faith. His promises that comprise our hope. The transforming strength of His love.
So while the current battle over health care rages around us, and while it's certain to rage on for months and years to come....and when other battles flare up which threaten our freedoms and our nation....and when new and sundry crises manifest themselves in ways unpredictable....
....strain forward to what lies ahead. Don't lose sight of the real finish line. Fight the good fight and run the race to the end. Whatever suffering that results does not have to be for naught. God did not make us for this world, and America is not His chosen people. Yes, our country has stood as a destination for freedom and liberty, and has long been perceived as 'a city on a hill'. But first and foremost: we are His sons and daughters, and we are trapped behind enemy lines, where the only escape might be at the cost of our own lives...and livelihoods. Saints are forged in the flames of affliction. Perhaps we are being tested, prepared for the opportunity to stand along side our persecuted Christian brethren from centuries past. To be in solidarity with fellow believers in oppressive foreign lands. I'm not a pessimist or defeatist here - but let's be honest. The history of the post-Pentecost world has not always been kind to the faithful Christian.
So what to do?
Pray. Pray for God's will to be done, which is always the salvation of the individual involved. Strain forward to what lies ahead. We may not experience the justice we deserve, we might not see the conversion our prayers seek, but we will have joy, peace and contentment that no amount of oppression and tyranny can ever legislate away.
Five verses later, in that same letter, Paul wrote this: "Their end is destruction, their god is the belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. But our commonwealth is in heaven..."
