Romans 8:28 We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.
President Obama is better for America, America as she is now, than Mitt Romney would have been. I say this by faith and with sure hope, even though with deep sorrow. I see much suffering coming our way, suffering that I hoped could be averted with Romney, but God sees more clearly than I can, and God had a better plan. President Obama, not because of his own plans or purposes, but because of God’s, will work the greater good for this country and for the world.
Mitt Romney, especially in the closing days of the campaign, called America to an optimism in a future that he could see as possible – and he offered a plan to get there. Unlike the president, Romney had a record of success to give substance to his promise, but most of America preferred otherwise. Most of America wanted what President Obama promised – and that is precisely, I submit to you, why God allowed him to win. We got what we wanted. Because so many wanted such small and unworthy things, God gave us what we deserved. We were not ready – not even now are we ready – for more and for better.
America is shrinking. Her economy, her standard of living, her military strength, her internal security, her civil harmony are all weakening, unravelling, shrinking. Those criteria are all, however, only symptoms of the deeper things that concern God more, and that ought to concern us more. America is shrinking, weakening, unravelling in the eternal things – in the moral economy – in the spiritual values that are the foundation of those other things, the things of her economy, her standard of living, her military strength, her employment percentages and so on. America is increasingly turning away from God, and as she does so she finds the lie more attractive than truth, deceit more convincing than honesty and fantasy more desirable than reality. America prefers hope for the goods of this world, rather than hope in the good that brings true happiness. America prefers sugar highs and drive-through gratification, to the substance and perseverance found in the Bread from heaven that brings eternal life.
How has America so dumbed herself down, and so quickly? How has she cast aside so thoughtlessly the treasure bequeathed to her by heros, by history? How has she sold her birthright so cheaply, her honor for such counterfeits? How, America, has it come to this?
I look to the Church for answers, because the Church was sent for this reason: to bring the saving Truth of God to a dark and fallen world, even to America. I look to the lampstand for light, but the lamp flickers dimly and the glass is covered with soot! It sounds one moment strong and clear, then it flickers and falls to mumbling words with no meaning. Where is the Church! I see the buildings, I see the people, but where is the mission? I hear words, I see activities and programs – where is the Word? Where is the Life? Where is the Fire?
America got what she deserves. The watchmen sent to stand duty on the towers were not looking out toward the enemy, they turned their backs to the danger and were preoccupied with parties and celebrations inside the walls. The world grows darker, America grows darker, and the Church is sleeping. The Church is busy with many things, but one thing is lacking. Has the one thing been forgotten entirely? Has the one thing been cast aside forever? Does she even know and can she recognize, anymore, what she has forgotten?
One person commented, maybe tongue in cheek and not intending to be prophetic, that we need to hang on and try to survive the coming 4 years of purgatory. God does work that way – He allows suffering for His purpose of remediation, for correction, for purging of that which is unworthy, and for the purity of holiness. Adam and Eve were cast out of the Garden and into a world of suffering, that humanity might begin a journey of return to God. Divine justice is one with His mercy, because God is ever and always and only True.
Holy Church, will you awaken now? Will you see the poverty of your people, their hunger, their thirst? Will you hear their cries for that which you were given and entrusted with, cries for Him whom you were sent to reveal and proclaim? For now, He continues to give us all time. Church in America, will you now do what He commanded you?
Mt 28:18 Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,
20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”
Renew The Church! - website and Blog 
Dear Thomas,
Your blog message is a sobering one, yet one which encourages us to see, with the eyes of faith, that God is True to His Word: He does work all things unto good, as we hear Him tell us in Romans 8:28.
This morning’s Mass Readings also encourage us to remain in His Word during times of trial. Through the Letter to the Philippians He tells us:”…work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for God is at work in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure…” In Psalm 27, we hear: “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” Finally. in the Gospel, Luke: 14: “…Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me, cannot be my disciple… ”
God is Our Father and He knows how to give good gifts to His children, (Mt 7:7-11). Now, in this Year of Faith, He is giving us every grace to continue to grow in Faith, Hope and above all Charity, that we may be worthy sons and daughters of His Love.
By: Deborah on November 7, 2012
at 9:28 am
The blog made me think: whatever our earthly desires and feelings, God’s will be done. The short-term impact could for all we know, lead to better things and be a necessary price to pay.
By: Chris on November 7, 2012
at 3:25 pm
Amen. I couldn’t agree more. The Lord is kind and merciful. I truly believe “We The People” will prevail in the eternal world, if not the earthly, through these trials and tribulations. Thank you, Dear Jesus, for loving us enough to suffer for your True Love. Lovingly, Lesley and Family.
By: Lesley Wilkes on November 7, 2012
at 3:35 pm
Like most of us who have Faith in Him were deeply disappointed with yesterday’s outcome. But then again, it is His will and it will be done. I just hope and pray that America sooner or later will realize that there is a Supreme Being who will eventually grant us greater glory and eternal salvation.
By: pinoygee on November 7, 2012
at 6:18 pm
I do agree with all of your comments, but we “the church” carry much of the blame for this debacle, in as much as we have failed to shine the light of Christ in our homes, workplace, communities etc..What we have reaped is a godless society of self-centered hedonists. Yes, the Lord can do a work of redemption in our nation but only if we let the Holy Spirit work through us. Get off the sidelines, start speaking out the truth no matter what the cost.We must devote ourselves to prayer and action to a much greater extent than at anyother time in our nation’s history or we will be judged and God will turn his back on us and our country. I’m ashamed to say that I know catholics and christians who voted for Obama, as if compassion for the poor through government social programs trumps compilcity in the evil of abortion or many other moral evils. Don’t run from the responsiblity of speaking out like Jonah did, God might not give us a second chance like he did Nineveh.
By: Richard J O'Brien Jr. MD on November 8, 2012
at 8:09 pm
And I do agree with your addition to the issue: the laity have responsibility as well to “be Church” and to live her mission. I hold the hierarchy more responsible, however, because they are the shepherds, the leaders, the recognized and followed teachers. And to whom much is given, much is required. I realize that there are some – maybe many, who can say? – in the laity who want it just as it is, and no more. They too do not want to rock the boat or disturb the comfy status quo. They too, with many in the clergy, love things as they are – “maintenance mode” – with none of the challenges or demands that would come with zealous mission-consciousness.
I suspect that if the Church became serious about her mission, and began serious, comprehensive adult formation in the truth of the Faith, and began to expect and preach Catholic action on the part of the laity, then we would lose members and budgets would shrink. But that may be the very road – the narrow and hard one – that Jesus is calling us to.
By: Thomas Richard on November 10, 2012
at 9:04 am
“But that may be the very road – the narrow and hard one – that Jesus is calling us to.”
Thomas…that’s also how many of us see it, based on the catastrophic failure of catachesis in North America, especially since Benedict XVI has been working on it for quite some years.
All we have to do now is to sincerely join with our Holy Father in doing our utmost to follow and live the new evangeliziation..
Mary
By: Mary A. Reinhardt on November 11, 2012
at 9:55 pm
Richard,
How are we supposed to stand up for what is right when the one at the pulpit just wants to tickle the ears of people. We have a handful of passionate priests telling the truth. And churches book them for special occasions because people love to collect their CD’s from the light house Catholic media stand in front of the chapel: Then comes Sunday and our parish likes to hear talks about superficial matters, jokes, and sometimes even a prosperity gospel lie to go home feeling nice and comfy. God forbid that a priest tell his congregation after his homily and before consecration, “ Oh, yeah, just in case you have not gone to confession in at least a month you are most likely about to commit a mortal sin …..I believe in one God…”
People might not be physically dying as a result of partaking in the Sacrament anymore but just as Jesus said, “Let the dead bury their own dead.” We have a church full of the walking dead.
This is so true because you see the same priest give the sermon he should be giving on Sunday to those going to weekly mass or Saturday morning mass. You know the sermon, old school fire and brimstone kind of things. I look around and see an older crowd some times I am the youngest there. So the truth is in the hearts of some of our pastors. It is that fear seeing numbers dwindle. They fear losing people who are not even living the faith. My generation of Catholics uses artificial birth control, shack up, and get divorced just like everyone else. We are on our third child and I have “Catholics” asking me, “So which one of you is going to get fixed?”
Then take the men for example. We have two or three men groups at our parish. There are almost 40 different women groups! For one thing there should be only one men’s group and headed by a priest or deacon and they should orchestrate what needs to be done with charities and those types of things within that group, and only one women’s group. Why so many groups? Everyone wants to be the master and no one wants to be the servant.
“Brother so and so wants it done this way,” or “sister in charge; well she wants it done that way.” The members are at war with each other and never getting anything done. God gave us a church with a chain of command. We have forgotten that chain of command. The shepherds are the ones being herded by our culture. Too afraid to tell people that they are living evil lives and producing rotten fruit.
By: Timothy Payne on November 13, 2012
at 12:30 pm