Do Not Make a God Out of Politics
Fr. David Barnes • November 6, 2024
Dear Friends in Christ,
One of the challenges in writing each week in the bulletin is that the deadline for submission is many days before you actually read it. (When there are holidays involved, the deadlines can even be weeks before!) Today, I am actually happy that I had to write this column last weekend. It means that as I write it, election day has not taken place. So, you cannot read into this my support for any particular candidate or party. I am writing this no matter who wins or loses. I am writing this not knowing whether there was a landslide or a tight finish. I do not know whether by the time you read this the results have been conclusively determined or whether legal battles are mounting. I do not know whether the country is in turmoil or whether everybody has just peacefully and serenely moved on with life.
What then, do I know? I know that politics do matter. Those who write, enact, and enforce our laws, those who determine policy, those who rule from the bench, and those who govern us shape our society. In their hands are the lives of the unborn, the poor, the immigrant, and the sick. They can robustly defend freedom of speech and freedom of religion, or they can work to restrict such freedoms. They can fan the flames of hatred or they can work to build peace amid differing views.
At the same time, we should be cautioned not to make a god out of politics. People spend enormous amounts of time and energy watching, reading, and debating about political candidates and parties. It’s interesting that people may be very vocal about their support of a political candidate or party, but when it comes to bearing public witness to their Catholic Faith they seem reserved and silent. A person may proudly place a campaign sign in their yard, but when Christmas rolls around, his house is decorated with reindeer and snowmen, but no sign of a Nativity Set. People may have a political bumper sticker on their car, but no crucifix in their home. People may spend hours on Sunday morning listening to political talk shows rather than attending Mass. They may consume enormous amounts of political commentary on social media, but rarely spend time consuming the Word of God. They may spend lots of time trying to convince others about their political candidate, but never speak to others about Jesus.
While the country has been gearing up for this November’s election, the Church always focuses on a different election in November. For Catholics, November is a time to recall that we have been chosen (elected) by Christ. We recall during this month the last things. We remember what really and ultimately matters. As important as our earthly home (and country) is, our true homeland is in heaven. We look toward those who were elected for eternal life (the Saints) during this month. They lived as travelers, longing for heaven. They lived for Christ. We pray for the souls in purgatory and we ask for the intercession of the saints in heaven.
Whether our candidates won or lost, now is a good time for all of us to examine our own life and our relationship with the political circus. Have you become spiritually depleted by making politics your god? Have you been chewing on the empty calories of political banter for months upon months? Whether your candidate won or lost, it is quite possible that you still feel empty at the end. That is because no political candidate and no political party can take the place of God. There is only One God. In the end, the one who sits on the throne and judges heaven and earth is Jesus Christ. If we have allowed political addiction to cloud our view of that truth, let’s turn once again to Jesus and be nourished by His Word and by His Body and Blood.
Let us pray for all of those elected this past week. May they govern with justice, humility, and with obedience to the Truth. As for all of us, let’s pray that we live our lives in such a way that everyone who looks upon us and hears us knows without any doubt that the center of our identity is not a political party or a politician, but only Jesus Christ.
Your Brother in Christ,
Fr. David Barnes
PS: I wish all of those who have had the privilege and honor of serving in the Armed Forces a Happy Veteran’s Day. We honor you for your service and are grateful to you!
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Pastor's Notes
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It is Sunday afternoon after a wonderfully long and exhausting week. There is nobody in the parish offices right now, the hall is empty, nothing going on in the church, and no meetings taking place. The crowd from the Mass and reception with the Archbishop has all gone home. The peace and quiet feels pretty amazing! It was a beautiful day today. The Archbishop’s visit, the Mass, and the reception were all a real time of grace. What a real joy it was to all worship at Mass together and to enjoy such a fun reception. I know many of you spoke to me about how beautiful the Mass and the reception were. In your name and in my own name, I thank the people who are actually responsible for that. The Choir and musicians, the servers, readers, ushers, and clergy all did a great job. I also thank those who worked so hard in providing such a wonderful reception. It was such a great time. Holy Week–which we begin today–is always an exhausting time for those who work at a parish, but this year, I realize that we have been running on high gear long before Holy Week began. There has been so much happening that it is hard some days to remember what day it is and what comes next. The parish staff has been absolutely amazing. They are just so good. They really pour themselves out for all of you. I know you all know this, but they really go way above and beyond for the sake of this parish. They never stop. The many good things that we are able to do as a parish are possible because they are selfless. We are very blessed. They are the best. Speaking of Holy Week . . . and so it begins. This week is the high point of the Liturgical Year. These are the most solemn days of our Catholic life. Please see the schedule of Masses and Services this week. Basically we should all do our very best to be here on Holy Thursday evening, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday or Easter Sunday. The Sacred Triduum is in a league all its own in terms of beauty. Don’t deprive yourself of it. Live it as completely as possible. You won’t regret it! Last Sunday I mentioned at my Mass that when Jesus told them to take away the stone from the tomb, Martha tried to prevent it by quite practically mentioning that Lazarus had been in the tomb for four days already (and it was hot) so, “There will be a stench.” That certainly was true. But, Jesus came precisely in order to enter into the stench of people’s lives. I mentioned that perhaps someone at that Mass had something in their life that they have buried away, afraid to ever confess it because they were ashamed of the stench of that sin. But, burying it only increases the rot. In confession, we roll away the stone of the tomb and allow the Lord to call us into new life. Jesus wants us to roll away the stone so that we can be set free. His mercy is for everyone. Lazarus was dead for four days and the stench must have been overwhelming, but Jesus is unafraid. He only shows mercy. He forgives. He sets free. After Mass, numerous people confided to me that they might be the person I was speaking to. Good! We are all tempted to bury our sins out of sight and seal them away in a tomb to rot. So, my reason for sharing this again is simply to say to anyone else who has “that thing” buried away that rots away at you, go to confession before Easter. Jesus is not afraid of the stench of our sins. Jesus loves you and wants you to be free. He only brings mercy. He only brings goodness. He only brings life. I look forward to living these beautiful (and exhausting!) days with all of you. Fraternally in Christ, Fr. David Barnes
On the front of our bulletin each week are the words: “Beauty, Goodness, Truth, and Friendship in Christ.” This past week I have seen so many instances of those words being brought to life in our parish. There has been something so wholesome about all that has taken place in these days. Many times this week I had the sense that the Lord is doing something beautiful among us. Last Saturday morning our weekly Men’s Group was well-attended. During Lent the Men’s Group has been doing a study on the Seven Deadly Sins and the opposing Virtues. We celebrated this week both the Feast of St. Joseph and the Feast of our patron, St. Patrick. Last Saturday evening over two hundred parishioners gathered for dinner, dancing, and singing. It was so beautiful to see parishioners in their eighties, only a few weeks old, and everything in between, all enjoying one another’s company. Many thanks to Fr. Harrington, our parish staff, and the incredible parishioners who put the whole thing together. It felt so wholesome. On Monday, the second graders at St. Patrick School received their First Reconciliation. What a beautiful privilege it was to witness the devotion of those children. On St. Patrick's Day I had the school Mass. I was so impressed by how knowledgeable the students were about St. Patrick! During my homily, at one point I asked, “What is the food that strengthens our friendship with Jesus?” A child said, “The Bread.” I said, “Well, it is correct but it’s more than just ordinary bread. What is it really?” Some pre-k four-year-old yelled out, “It’s the Body of the Lord!” Made my day. Also at that Mass, one of our third-graders received her First Holy Communion. After that Mass, the whole school gathered for a celebration of St. Patrick where they put on a play about St. Patrick’s life, saying hymns to St. Patrick, offered prayers, and had a big parade. I was really moved when they were marching to the words, “For God and for St. Patrick!” Again, I was struck by how wholesome it all was. After the Noon Mass on St. Patrick’s Day, we had Irish Bread and tea in the parish hall for all of those who were at Mass. On March 19th, the Feast of St. Joseph, the Men’s Group hosted parishioners after the 6pm Mass and provided zeppole. This Saturday Fr. Sijo had a morning of retreat to help people live Lent in a deeper way. I have been very moved by the fidelity of so many of you to our two daily Masses during Lent and to the long confession lines! You’re an impressive lot! And today, of course, we welcome Archbishop Richard Henning for the Noon Mass. In a very real sense, us gathered together around the Eucharistic Altar with our Archbishop is the fullest expression of those words, “Beauty, Goodness, Truth, and Friendship in Christ.” It is in the Eucharist that we encounter the One who is Beauty, Goodness, and Truth. It is the Eucharist that binds us together into a communion of friendship with Christ and His Church. It is such a great joy and gift to be together with our Archbishop today. Repeatedly during these (and many other) events this week, I had that peaceful sense that, “This is just how things are supposed to be.” They were beautiful and wholesome moments. They are signs to me that Christ is here at work among us. Beauty, goodness, truth, and friendship in Christ are not merely words. They are a fact that is present and lived among us. Your Brother in Christ, Fr. David Barnes
