Politics

Closing in on the end of Augustine. I’ll probably stick with him for awhile. I did one of my capstone papers on the first half of City of God and didn’t spend too much time at all (which is to say: none) on the second part (Books 11-22).

This gap is on my mind at the moment; looking ahead at the preaching schedule I see that the readings for my next turn in the ambo are as follows:

• Isaiah 45:1,4-6 (“Thus says the LORD to his anointed, Cyrus”)
• Psalm 96 (“Give the Lord glory and honor”)
• 1 Thessalonians 1:1-5b (“For our gospel did not come to you in word alone…")
• Matthew 22:15-21 (“Whose image is this and whose inscription?")

So at first glance: authority, government, church and state, &c. Just in time for election season, too, so it’s providentially well-timed. Many years ago, I treated politics as something of a substitute for sports. I kept up with all the different races across the country and listened to a lot of political talk-radio stuff. Somewhere along the way, the disappointment turned into disgust and I dropped out of it completely, settling for a sort of political homelessness which continues to this day.

During a pre-formation conference with the vocations director, the conversation moved towards politics and I was told that, even having started the process, I should begin tempering my political opinions and moving myself towards the Church’s position. Was this going to be a challenge for me? Even if your brother runs for city dog-catcher, you can’t put a sticker on your car. Not as a cleric, and probably not now, since people will be watching you closely.

“Not in the least,” I recall saying. The focus on parties and candidates gives way to careful examination of programs and policies to see how and where they intersect with Church teachings. It feels almost sort of mercenary; picking and choosing from across the landscape those things which work and those which must be rejected out of hand. When I’m asked where I land on the spectrum, I point to the Catechism. There’s my platform. My bishop speaks, there’s the yardstick.

Yesterday afternoon we did a Blessing of the Animals. There was a great turnout. Mostly dogs but a surprising number of cats in carriers too! One person brought their guinea pig and there was also a tiny gecko. No farm animals or birds, which surprised me.