1/ At the end of the liturgical year, the Church asks us to meditate on the four last things: death, judgment, heaven, and hell. While not intentional, I think it's entirely appropriate that Americans get to hear those readings after Election Day.
2/ Modern politics makes totalizing demands, and for some, it is a religion in its own right, making credal and moral claims that direct the lives of adherents.
3/ Christians cannot totalize their politics in this way. For us, political action is merely one means to a more important end: exercising our share in the kingship of Christ given at baptism to order the world justly.
4/ God will judge us on our faithfulness to him as we exercise that kingship, not on how much of a given agenda we succeed in advancing.
5/ While this is an important message before elections, it's an even more important message afterwards. Without faithfulness, victory is hollow and will eventually crumble, while defeat is unbearable and nihilistic.
6/ I find it providential, then, that we are reminded of the eternal things and the providence of the true King after we have fought our earthly battles for power, in the hope that we do not let ourselves be absorbed by them.
8/8 @threadreaderapp unroll
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
