I have consciously tried to avoid discussing politics in my homilies, bulletin reflections, and blogs. As a Christian and as a priest I understand that I am called to something beyond the body politic to that which is greater – the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God is made up of justice and charity. It is justice and charity that permeate throughout the Church, both triumphant and militant. Therefore our Church or Heavenly Society (our call) transcends beyond what we construct here, be it capitalism, socialism, communism, fascism or any other “ism.” Those systems are based on control.
In capitalism, the means of production, that which is produced is done so privately with the goal being profit. However, the control of this private sector is held by very few, for instance the wealthy control the market. You may ask, “Who are the wealthy?” The wealthy are the politicians, the bankers, and corporate big wigs.
In socialism a false premise exists, that the people have cooperatives into which they equally contribute and benefit from, they are self managed since they collectively contribute to the economy, but that is just a shadow as not everyone has the same access to the same resources, therefore they are not true or just cooperatives.
Communism is basically a more radical form of socialism in which there are no longer classes to society or any private ownership of property, all own everything, but the catch is that no one really owns anything especially those who are not high up in the food chain within the government. These major forms of government\economic systems are deficient, since they are not based on justice and charity as is the kingdom of God.
And yet, Jesus calls us not to abandon human form of government but to continue to meet our obligations for the common good, i.e. “Pay to Caesar what is Caesar’s and pay to God what is God’s.” I wonder if Jesus was taking into account a government that protects the rich at all costs and continues to assist them even when they fail, but does not assist the common man, who is the greatest contributor to society since the common man makes up the greatest majority of society. It is the common man that builds highways, byways, railroads, automobiles, farms, technological equipment, and any and everything which we use in our day to day lives. So why is it that large banks can be bailed out but not the restaurant entrepreneur or the owners of a mom and pop deli shop? Do they have less dignity, worth, or value than Wall Street, car manufacturers, or large banks? It is easy to see the flaw in capitalism as the wealthy continue to receive assistance at the greatest level while the common man continues to struggle and in the process a middle class that is shrinking. Still, there is Jesus demanding that we live honorably and continue to do our duty to country. I wonder if He meant even when a nation becomes unjust as was the case with Rome in its oppression of Israel. Something inside of me is saying, “Yes, even when a nation is unjust.” Does Jesus demand that we be good, docile, and almost seemingly lay down in front of injustice? When we respond as Christians we are preaching the Gospel and it effects people more than just by our words alone, our actions when grace filled move people, maybe not right away, but hopefully grace will begin to take hold and stir the human heart and move the good that is in everyone, even those who take, take, take.
God will, however, raise up men and women from time to time who challenge the body politic to be more just, but when doing so they themselves still remain charitable and act justly. We have seen these great folks in people like Dorothy Day who began the Catholic workers movement in NYC, Mother Teresa who made people take a good hard look at themselves in how they treated those who were the poorest of the poor, Pope John Paul the Great (JPII) who along with Ronald Regan brought down communism in Poland, Germany, and Russia without ever firing a single shot, and who can forget Oscar Romero who in the face of certain danger stood up to the oppression of a Salvadorian government which persecuted the Church and kept the poor down trodden, it cost him his life which he gave at the altar of Christ.
We too are called to have prophetic voices and challenge the body politic when it goes off kilter, but like our holy brothers and sisters to remain in grace and go about our business with a clear conscience. The problem in our day is that our American society, the body politic has been unjust and the injustice has nothing to do with being democratic, republican, or of the tea party persuasion since many of them have contributed to the machine of a select few rich who control the market, property, and even laws, they are all friends, since like attracts like. There is a vicious circle within government and it is made up of the select few. The rich contribute to the persons whom they want in office and since it was the rich who got them into office those who now occupy those offices must support their benefactors otherwise their time in office will be short, hence they are all friends. That is why they bailed out their friends, both republican and democrat alike.
I do not like the fact that I have become a pessimist when it comes to our government and our form of economy. The original idea was good, not perfect, but good and working, yet somewhere along the line we have gone astray. Jesus asks that we pay our dues both to society and God. He is right, we must, as did Dorothy Day, Oscar Romero, and all prophetic voices that stood up and pointed out injustice, yet still continued to live honorably and continued to pay their dues. Therefore, since I love this country I too will continue to pay my dues, to give to Caesar what belongs to him and to give to God what belongs to him. We must never stop being compassionate, just, good and obedient servants. I pray for our leaders and all those that seek office that they are blessed with wisdom, courage, and fortitude and I also pray that they remember us.
A great example of someone who protested injustice (in his case through silence) was St. Thomas More so I will leave you with his final words before his execution, words that have come to mean so much to me, they are the words of Jesus from today’s Gospel just said a little differently, “I have remained the King’s good servant, but God’s first!”
Fr. John Paul Picinic
Picture of St. Thomas More confronting Cardinal Wolsey on a matter of just law.
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