Many of Your Won't LIke This - Just Remember: The Truth Shall Set Your Free

Many of you won't like this, but it's not matter. It's got to be said. Why? Because it's true. And the truth shall set you free. What's "It." We'll see in a bit.

We're bearing down on a crucial moment for America and, frankly, the world: the U.S. election. 

For Americans, this election will cap an incredibly contentious campaign for President between an incumbent and a man who wants to replace him. One thing to remember here: The U.S. has had contentious campaigns in the past. From what I've read, some have been as contentious, if not more so. It's hard to imagine anything more contentious than the campaign by Abraham Lincoln. With his election, Southern states seceded from the Union. The Civil War began shortly thereafter. 

Let's hope the results of this campaign aren't that drastic. But who knows? Some say we're in a new Civil War already. Time will tell.

As for the world, we have to remember that globalization or no globalization, the U.S. remains the most powerful country on earth. While change is in the air, that fact remains.

But let's be a bit more specific here: The U.S. government remains the most powerful in the world. 

I'm not sure every American walks around all day flexing his or her muscles, exerting world-wide power. Most of us prefer living our lives in peace, with our families and friends. The government, on the other hand, does flex its power on a daily basis - for good and for ill. That's just what governments have always done when they get this powerful.

When the election finally arrives, we'll all be waiting for the results. Will they come, as they typically do, the night of the election? The jury's out. Some say there will be no results for weeks, if not months. Some say that, even if a result is declared by the media covering the election, it will be contested, no matter what the margin of victory. Certainly we'd expect some contesting if it's close. But we may get this even if it's not so close.

Contesting a not-so-close election? Sure. Just look at the current voting process, initiated due to the C-Virus mess. It may be a prudent measure to have early voting, mail-in voting, etc. But it'll likely lead to all sorts of claims that the counting was tampered with. Thus, no real result for weeks or months.

Whether there's a quick result, or a long-drawn out contest, expect disruption, at the very least. At worst, we'll see extended bouts of demonstrations, many violent, including looting, destruction of property, even violence against persons. 

Our family will likely stock up on necessities such that we don't have to leave our little home for at least a few days. No need to put oneself in harm's way. If it should all blow over without a whimper, you don't lose anything by being prudent.

However all this plays out, today I'm going to point something out that many of you won't like. But, as noted at the beginning, it's true. And the truth shall set you free.

Before stating what for me is the obvious, a quick check-in for some context. I'm Catholic. And I try to be a "good" Catholic. Part of that effort consists of learning and living according to the teachings of the Church. This one's not as popular these days, even among Catholics, But it remains true, a true teaching of the Church. It's got to do with today's feast, observed in the traditional Catholic liturgical calendar. (It's observes in what I call the "new-fangled" calendar towards the end of November - something to do with Vatican II. But, never mind that for now.)

Today's feast: Christ the King. Yes, King. King of what? King of the Universe. That means everybody and everything. Sorry if you're put off by this, especially if you're not Catholic. It's not meant to offend anyone. It simply expressed reality, what we believe to be the case. Jesus Christ is King of us all. 

Especially relevant to our upcoming election. I've got friends, colleagues, acquaintances, etc. who are so wrapped up in who wins this election, this could provide at least some measure of antidote for what, for many, is a high level of anxiety: If Biden wins, the world will end...If Trump wins, the world will end...or some iteration of these. 

Folks, whoever wins, they'll be subject to a higher authority. They may not know it. And if they do, may not acknowledge it. But it's true. Even with the U.S. being the most powerful country in the world, even with their wanting to run the most powerful government in the history of the world, they won't be King. They'll remain one level removed. And if they're smart, they'll act accordingly.

They likely won't. 

But that doesn't change the facts. The prayer for today's Divine Office (in the traditional rite) captures the real and supernatural essence of the fact of Christ the King:

Almighty and everlasting God, who in thy beloved Son, the King of the whole world, hast willed to restore all things: mercifully grant that all the families of nations, now kept apart by the wound of sin, may be brought under the sweet yoke of his rule.

I'll leave it at that. If you want, you can read it again and meditate on it for a few minutes. If you don't already understand and agree with this - with reality - perhaps you'll receive that grace necessary to finally grasp this. Warning: Your life will change if you do. 

But that's OK. It'll be a change for the better. For one thing, you'll be free of all this strife and anxiety surrounding the election. Who wins matters, but not as much as some people think. The winner will still fall short of the power of God. And it's the power of God that we should care most about. His Will be done.

If you reject all this, I feel sorry for you. I'll pray for you. If you accept it, then you know the truth. Rejoice. You understand what so many have heard, what many say, but so few really understand;

The truth shall set you free!

God bless you.