Regardless of what you may feel and what political party we claim and the candidates represented by that, as Christians we have an obligation to pray for both our nation and our president. I think there is far more at stake here than just what direction we anticipate with joy or trepidation we may go. Yes, things will be different but also the same. Most likely things will not be as terrible as many fear or as wonderful as others hope. The bottom line as I see it is that we need to always rise above division and retribution.
The former President is no longer in power and the present new one now takes control. It is what it is for now but if we take God seriously to any degree and our Christian faith the same we have to know that in this age of increased secularism and in which the beliefs of the Church seem to have little influence over the general culture, its time for us to be unwavering in our witness to the Gospel. There are common issues for the good of all such as the defense of human life in all its stages of development from conception and life outside the womb, the protection of immigrants, the poor, the vulnerable. Rooting out the causes of racisim and poverty and certainly the end of this terrible pandemic that has caused so much suffering everywhere are all fundamentally supported by both Gospel values and society in general. Yet, the Church and the new administration despite some common ground is open to constant dialogue on those problematic disagreements. Hopefully, a mutually respectful dialogue will take place.
Indeed the brief "honeymoon" period of this new presidency will come to a close rather quickly. We're not sailing altogether in calm waters and whatever may lie ahead our God is a rock and our faith must be strong.
Be that as it may, our prayer must be our weapon against darker forces that would love to and to some extent already have undermined the good will of many social issues such as those around life, the family, and efforts towards unifying a people who have been broken and partisan for some time. International issues around peace and harmony and the respect of human rights continue to be a never ending mantra. All that contributes to the common good of human society is always at stake and we certainly have a voice in the marketplace to be ambassadors of the good news Jesus has brought.
Let us pray:
O God, to whom every human power is subject,
grant to your servant our president
success in the exercise of his high office,
so that, always revering you and striving to please you,
he may constantly secure for our nation and world
to preserve for the people entrusted under his care
the freedom that comes from civil peace.
(Collect: For the Head of State or Ruler
Roman Missal)
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