As American Catholics, we give thanks to God for bringing us safely through a hotly contested but peaceful election. Some are happy with the outcome; some are not. But all of us can breathe a sigh of relief that it is finally over.
This period of transition leading up to the inauguration of a new administration is a good time for us to consider what our response should be to the new political situation and how our faith as Christians might help us in the process. Sacred Scripture certainly provides ample opportunities for us to do so.
It is noteworthy that, in the Book of the Prophet Isaiah, God uses a secular ruler ─ a pagan one at that ─ to accomplish his purposes. Jerusalem had fallen to the Babylonians in 587 B C, and the Jews who did not perish were driven into exile. Eventually, the Persians replaced the Babylonians as the dominant force in the Middle East, and their ruler, Cyrus the Great, issued a decree permitting the Jews to return to their native land. Cyrus is even given the title God’s “anointed” one, that is, “messiah.” And he doesn’t even know God!
The prophet proclaims: “Thus says the Lord to his anointed, Cyrus, whose right hand I grasp. For the sake of my servant Israel, my chosen one, I have called you by your name, giving you a title, though you knew me not. It is I who arm you, though you know me not” (45:1, 4, 5). Referring to Cyrus, God says: “He shall rebuild my city and let my exiles go free without price or ransom” (45:13).
However, in another Old Testament tradition, Cyrus is indeed aware that his power comes from God, and that God has charged him to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem. By decree, he returns to the Jews all the gold and silver vessels that were plundered from the Temple of Solomon before it was destroyed. Then he orders his subjects who were their neighbors in exile to provide gold, silver and all kinds of goods and livestock to them as they begin their journey back to their homeland (Ezra 1).
The repercussions of those events are clear. God is sovereign. He is in control. Furthermore, God can and sometimes does use leaders of nations to fulfill his will whether they are aware of it or not, even if they don’t know him.
In the New Testament, reference to obedience to government leaders is made in a number of places. Jesus teaches that we should render to Caesar what is Caesar’s (Mk 12:17). Saint Paul says that everyone should be subject to the governing authorities (Rom 13:1). However, it is understood that their governing authority comes from God. “There is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore, whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed” (Rom 13:1-2). Thus, the presumption is that civil officials will govern in a godly manner with honesty and integrity.
With those things in mind, we must honor and respect the office of president and the president himself. In doing so, we honor the will of God and respect our democratic institutions. At the same time, we should never cease to encourage the president to do what is right and good in whatever ways are available to us. We should insist that he spearhead the effort to make sure future elections are fully transparent and free even from the hint of corruption. As both Catholics and Americans, we should feel free to criticize, but never demonize, the president if and when he should fall short in governing as God would have it. We should pray for our president every day, realizing that, when we pray for him, we are really praying for ourselves.
May the Holy Spirit inspire the president-elect and all newly-elected officials to govern with wisdom and virtue.
Father Edward Kolla is parochial vicar at Christ the Good Shepherd Parish, Vineland.
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