Letters from Fr. Carlos

“Two loves have made the two cities. Love of self, even to the point of contempt for God, made the earthly city; and love of God, even to the point of contempt for self, made the heavenly city” (Augustine, The City of God, Book 14, Chapter 28).
 
In a recent article entitled “Beware the Idolatry of Politics,”  Bishop Robert Barron tackles the reality of what it means to be Catholic in the face of all the recent events in our country that have many of us worried.  He reminds us all that:
 
“Throughout the election cycle, and in politics in general, Catholics are called to be informed about the running of the country, but we must always be careful to not worship politics nor the news cycle. The current climate in the presidential race offers a necessary opportunity to intentionally reflect on how Catholics should juggle the constant news with their spiritual lives. Doing so is necessary in order to avoid making the news and politics an idol...
Ultimately, the capacity to be informed about politics while remaining grounded in one’s faith comes down to what one loves the most—what we worship. You can discover what you worship by asking yourself what you spend the most time thinking about and what you care the most about. What you worship is what you value as the supreme good. Being consumed with an idea or a cause in such a way that it directs your every move is a form of worship. Unfortunately, the hyper-attentiveness and importance placed on the news and politics have made them idols for so many.”
 
I sadly find this last sentence to be all too true.  It seems that we are losing the interior peace that Christ fought so hard to give us, because of the ever-increasing noise that the enemy seems to be creating in the public sphere.
 
All of this has reminded me of another very holy elderly priest, Fr. Hennessey. Every time the theological debate in class began to devolve into a political one (yes, even clergy and future clergy are not immune to getting caught up in all this), he would tell us seminarians that politics, although necessary to govern ourselves because of our fallen state, is not to be baptized.  It is the necessary evil we must tolerate because man cannot abide to live by God's law. In other words, it belongs to the man-made city Augustine speaks about.
 
This election cycle, let us remind ourselves and the world that we are first and foremost children of God, and citizens of the heavenly kingdom. And instead of adding our voices to the noise and frenzy that is overwhelming so many, pray for our nation, our politicians (regardless of party) and all the civil institutions that allow this country to run.  For if they fail… we all lose.
 
Jesus, Mary and Joseph...Pray for us.