When you are a priest, you spend a lot of time learning about the problems people are having. That’s a big part of our “job”, really. We hear confessions, where people tell us about the darkest parts of their lives, which they often feel helpless to overcome. We meet with people who need pastoral advice and counseling. We walk with people when their loved ones die–or as they die–and help them confront the realities of life beyond death and what that means. We assist people in preparing for marriage and help them to leave behind things that will stop them from loving their future spouse as they should.
In the past month, and honestly ever since I was ordained in 2019, I have regularly heard that people struggle with whoever the current president is, or this politician or that politician. Sometimes a person would tell me about their great frustration over one side and the very next thing I heard was about the other side. (There was a bit of mental whiplash sometimes!) It is probably not a surprise that this past week, a lot of people have been struggling with the assassination of Charlie Kirk. Most of the time, I’ve heard that people are angry and frustrated at his attacker and the seeming glee that some have over Mr. Kirk’s death, but some are struggling because it has further inflamed and poisoned the political process in the USA. There are some people who are frustrated at my lack of saying much about it at Mass last weekend. There are even a few that are very angry that any respect is being given to Mr. Kirk.
I have just a few things to say to all of this, and this is all I will say on this:
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We should never find joy, glee, or happiness at the murder of another person. This is a sign that something in our heart is severely damaged. If we find ourselves in that position, we need to repent. We will be judged for our anger at others, and we will be condemned by our own standard when we refuse to forgive. (See Matthew 5:21-26)
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We should always pray for our enemies. Jesus tells us, point blank, “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, pray for those who persecute and insult you.” (Matthew 5:44) Whether you liked Mr. Kirk or not, his wife and two young children now have to live their lives with him. He has to answer to God for his life. They all need our prayers.
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As Christians, our eyes should not be focused too firmly on this world. We are to be salt and light for the world, we are to bring God’s kingdom forth, we are to share the Good News, but we are not truly citizens of this world. St. Paul teaches us that “those who live according to the flesh are concerned with the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the spirit with the things of the spirit.” (Romans 8:5) We should not overly occupy our minds with politics and such worldly pursuits. If we have been raised with Christ–baptized–, St. Paul reminds us to “think of what is above, not of what is on earth.” (Colossians 3:2) Our true citizenship is in Heaven. (Philippians 3:20)
We respond to the evil in this world by remembering that the Cross has conquered sin and death, and we are called to Heaven.
Lift your eyes to God. Love your enemies. Do good to those who hurt you. Pray for the salvation of the world. Be an example of God’s love, spread the Good News of salvation, and fearlessly live a virtuous Catholic life.
This is not easy, but this is how we live as Catholics.
Fr. Matt