Reflecting on the aftermath of the election

Purple Catholic Saturday Post

Nov 09, 2024

Good morning and happy Saturday. Today we celebrate the Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica, an appropriate feast day as we continue to reflect on the outcome of this weeks American Presidential election.

My thoughts are below, but I wanted to share this conversation that I had with Dr. Marcus Peter on Ave Maria in the Afternoon on the results of the election.

Matthew's conversation with Marcus Peter

I also wanted to share with you this commentary of his. Marcus is not only a Catholic convert, he is also a naturalized American citizen and this was his first presidential election in America. He shared his overall thoughts and reflected on his native Malaysia.

It is safe to say that most people were shocked by the results of the election. Not only did Donald Trump win the electoral college, it appears he will win the popular vote as well. At this writing, he as over 73.4 million votes.

Progressives, who throughout this election cycle, have repeatedly called Trump a fascist, a dictator, and likened him to Adolf Hitler, had an opportunity to look inward this week and think about what when wrong with their candidate.

Did they do that? No. Joe Scarbourgh and Rev. Al Sharpton on MSNBC agreed that the problem was mysoginistic Latinos and Black Americans. Callers on Michael Smerconish’s and Dan Abram’s SiriusXM radio programs blamed racists for Trump’s victory.

These sweeping generalizations about more than 73 million voters are despicable and are fundamentally un-Christian.

This is not a defense of the former and future president; I think some of his political agenda and language is problematic and sends the country in the wrong direction. But the same people who claim that racial groups are not monolythic and that diversity and inclusion are to be lauded are now doing the exact opposite.

At least President Joe Biden (remember him?) told America this week that everything is going to be ok. He is right.

As Catholics, we must remember that our fidelity is not to any country or political party; it is to Jesus and his Church.

Today we celebrate that unity by celebrating the anniversity of the dedication of the St. John Lateran Basillica, also known as “the Pope’s church.” This basilica is the Cathedral and seat for the Bishop of Rome and we celebrate this day to show our unity with him.

St. Caesarius of Arles said in a homily on this feast day, “after our baptism we merited the privilege of being temples of Christ.” Like physical Churches, we ourselves must find ourselves worthy to house Jesus in our hearts and in the Eucharist.

Later, he says, “When Christ came, he banished the devil from our hearts, in order to build in them a temple for himself. Let us therefore do what we can with his help, so that our evil deeds will not deface that temple. For whoever does evil, does injury to Christ.”

Evil, in theological and philosophical conversation, is the total sum of opposition to the good or the natural order of things. By doing things that are not good or by acting contrary to our nature, we are doing evil.

Ephesians 4:29 says, “Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for edifying, as fits the occasion, that it may impart grace to those who hear.” Is generalizing and blindly judging the hearts and minds of millions of Americans imparting grace or edifying? I don’t think so. On this scale, it serves no legimate purpose but to put the blame of loss on someone else.

At the same time, those who are happy that Trump won musn’t gloat. That also is not edifying and it also does not impart grace.

We are disrepecting and defiling ourselves, temples of Christ, when we use language and judge our neighbors as profusely as some are right now. We are thinking of our political opponents as “others” rather than as brothers and sisters in need of prayer and conversion. That must stop.

So as a Purple Catholic living in America right now, what ought we to do? Follow Jesus’ commands: Love God and love neighbor. We must also know that our salvation is not from a king or political leader or a country, but only from Jesus and his Church.

Depending on your political views you may think the next four years will be like a washboard road or smooth sailing. Regardless, I hope that you keep hope in Christ and that we can become more unified with his Church.

silhouette of flags — Photo by ashutosh nandeshwar on Unsplash

Thirty-second Week in Ordinary Time

This week we are entering the Thirty-second Week in Ordinary Time. This Sunday we will hear readings from 1 Kings 17:10-16, Psalm 146, Hebrews 9:24-28, and Mark 12:38-44.

Here are some resources to help you prep for the readings this Sunday:

In the Liturgy of the Hours, we are in Psalter Week IV. In the Office of Readings we are reading from the first book of

Here is a calendar for the rest of the week:

Monday, 11 November - Memorial St. Martin of Tours, bishop
Tuesday, 12 November - Memorial of St. Josaphat, bishop and martyr
Wednesday, 13 November - Memorial of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, virgin
Friday, 15 November - Memorial of St. Albert the Great, OP, bishop and doctor (optional)
Saturday, 16 November - Memorial of St. Margaret of Scotland (optional) or Memorial of St. Gertrude, virgin (optional)

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 5:3

In the news:

Have a good weekend,

Matthew

Reflecting on the aftermath of the election

Purple Catholic Saturday Post

Thirty-second Week in Ordinary Time

In the news:

The United States

The Vatican

The World

Discussion about this post