Living GRACE-fully

How can I reconcile my feelings, particularly my frustration and anger over the politics of the last few weeks with my Christian faith?  My peace has been stolen from me.  “A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy” (John 10:10).  The thief, Satan, is succeeding, but we know he will never win.  Look around at all the hate, the lack of respect, the anger.  Where has civility gone?  How could this possibly be what God wants for us?

Like many people, I have been wrapped up in the politics of Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation for the Supreme Court and the evil mess that is occurring right now.  It has been distressing.  I have watched the hearings and as much news commentary as I could stand.  I have wasted too much time on social media sharing my unsolicited opinion, while being attacked and called names by some of those that disagree.  I also watched some on my ‘side’ do the same. 

I watched as a good man suffered a character assassination with mere allegations, no corroboration, no evidence and no presumption of innocence. 

I watched as his precious young daughter was mocked for praying for the woman that made the allegations.

I watched as a woman who, given the benefit of the doubt, was used as a political pawn. 

Each of these people are children of God, who are loved by Him unconditionally, and because of that alone, deserve our respect. 

I watched as friends who had suffered from sexual assault painfully remembered their experiences.

I watched as those with husbands, brothers, fathers and sons expressed their concern about false allegations and the loss of presumption of innocence.

I watched as our politicians chose to make this whole thing a circus for their political gain, while all of this could have been handled privately.

I watched as protesters screamed in the faces of those that disagreed with them.

I watched as the media became the judge and the jury based on their opinions and political bias and really nothing else, while adding fuel to the fire. 

The American people are the ones that will suffer from this.  We. Us.  All of us.  Lines are drawn, friends are lost, hate it fueled.  The politicians will move on to something else.  We are the ones that will need to heal.

A few days ago, during my morning prayer time, I prayed for peace.  I was not feeling peace because of all the chaos.  I feel passionately about things and was caught up in it all.  I prayed and I waited…

Placed on my heart were the words of Jesus from His Sermon on the Mount, “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.  Do not worry about tomorrow.  Tomorrow will take care of itself” (Matthew 6:33-34). 

How had I forgotten this?  In the midst of this mess, how had I forgotten to put God first, above it all and to trust that He is the one in charge?  We can argue all day long and create further division among our brothers and sisters in Christ, but to what end?  No one is going to change their mind.  Does it even matter?  

Are we seeking God first and rising above the frustration, despair and chaos that has been caused by  Satan, whose sole purpose is to draw us away from God and destroy us? 

I realized at that moment, I had not been.  I had been duped.  I had been fooled.  Again.  We must always be aware and vigilant.  “(Our) opponent the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). 

He is succeeding.  He is laughing at us as we try to destroy one another. 

Let us “draw (our) strength from the Lord and from his mighty power.  Put on the armor of God so that (we) may be able to stand firm against the tactics of the devil.  For our struggle is not with flesh and blood (or politicians) but with the principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits” (Ephesians 6:10-12). 

Let us rise above and win the true battle that is being waged against us. 

This morning at daily Mass, our priest said something that I thought was profound.  He said that we hear what we want to hear depending on where our heart is. If our heart is full of love, we will listen from a place of love.  If it is full of hate, we will listen from a place of hate.

Sisters and brothers, let us look past the hate and the division and see in each other Christ who dwells within us (Romans 8:10) and try to love as Jesus loves (John 13:34).  This is not easy.  I know I need this reminder daily.

I will leave you with the words of Jesus, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.  Not as the world gives do I give it to you.  Do not let yours hearts be troubled” (John 14:27).

Peace.