Sick of Politics
by Anonymous

See Part One of this essay here.

What Should Be Our Attitude toward Politics and Politicians?

The way in which we should approach politics and look upon politicians is a mixture of the positive and the negative. We must be led by true and correct principles and not feelings, nor partisan attachments, nor family history, nor any other subjective criteria. Here are some principles that are worth noting and remembering:

► ALL POWER COMES FROM GOD―Our Lord Himself tells us that all political power ultimately comes from God―He says to Pontius Pilate, both informing him and warning him: “Thou shouldst not have any power against Me, unless it were given thee from above!” (John 19:11).

The Old Testament says the same thing: “[God] taketh away kingdoms and establisheth them! … The most High ruleth in the kingdom of men; and He will give it to whomsoever it shall please Him, and He will appoint the basest man over it” (Daniel 2:21; 4:14).

St. Paul takes up the same theme: “Let every soul be subject to higher powers: for there is no power but from God: and those that are, are ordained of God. Therefore he that resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God. And they that resist, purchase to themselves damnation. For princes are not a terror to the good work, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? Do that which is good: and thou shalt have praise from the same. For he is God’s minister to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, fear―for he beareth not the sword in vain. For he is God’s minister―an avenger to execute wrath upon him that doth evil. Wherefore be subject of necessity, not only for wrath, but also for conscience’s sake. For therefore also you pay tribute. For they are the ministers of God, serving unto this purpose. Render therefore to all men their dues. Tribute, to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor” (Romans 13:1-7).

To put it more simply and in more modern words: Every person has to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those rule are placed in that position by God―for better or for worse, for we get the rulers that we deserve. Therefore whoever resists legitimate authority, has opposed the will of God; and they who have opposed God, will bring condemnation upon themselves. For rulers―providing they are just and godly―should not cause fear in those of good behavior, but should cause fear for evildoers. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same authority―for the authority is a minister of God to you for your good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for the authority does not bear the sword of punishment for nothing; for authority is a minister of God, an avenger, who brings wrath on the one who practices evil.

Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience’ sake. For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing. Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; service to whom service is due; fear to whom fear is due; honor to whom honor is due. St. Peter also speaks on the matter: “Be ye subject therefore to every human creature for God’s sake―whether it be to the king as excelling; or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of the good. For so is the will of God, that by doing well you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men. As free, and not as making liberty a cloak for malice, but as the servants of God. Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king. Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the forward” [forward means a person who is harsh and difficult to deal with] (1 Peter 2:13-18).

► OBEY GOD RATHER THAN MEN―We are told to obey our lawful superiors, for their power comes from God. Nevertheless, whenever there is a contradiction between the laws of men and the Law of God, then we must follow the Law of God and disobey the law of men.

When the High Priest arrested St. Peter and the Apostles, for preaching about Jesus, the High Priest said: “‘Commanding we commanded you, that you should not teach in this Name―and behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and you have a mind to bring the blood of this Man upon us!’ But Peter and the Apostles answering, said: ‘We ought to obey God, rather than men!’” (Acts 5:27-29).

Our Lord implicitly indicated the same thing, when He said: “Be not afraid of them who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do, and are not able to kill the soul! But rather fear Him that can destroy both soul and body in Hell” (Matthew 10:28; Luke 12:4).

“Seek ye therefore first the Kingdom of God, and His justice” [justice means giving someone what is due to him] (Matthew 6:33). “He that is not with Me, is against Me!” (Matthew 12:30). As for obeying God rather than men―we obey legitimate authority in lawful commands that fall under their jurisdiction―but we are never to obey sinful commands, for they go against the Law of God.

► STANDING UP FOR CHRIST IN THE FACE OF EARTHLY AUTHORITIES―We see the Apostles persecuted by legitimate authorities and being commanded by legitimate authorities not to speak about Christ―yet even though the authority was legitimate, Peter and John disobeyed the command because it was command against God and His interests: “And as Peter and John were speaking to the people, the priests, and the officer of the Temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them―and, being grieved that they taught the people, they laid hands upon them, and put them in prison till the next day … And Annas the high priest, and Caiphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, setting them in the midst, they asked: ‘By what power, or by what name, have you done this?’ Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said to them: ‘Ye princes of the people, and ancients, hear! Be it known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God hath raised from the dead, even by him this man standeth here before you cured.” (Acts 4:1-9).

Our Lord, speaking of our so-called “End-Times” or “Last-Days” said: “They will lay their hands upon you, and persecute you … They shall deliver you up to councils, , and to magistrates and powers, delivering you up to the synagogues and into prisons, and in the synagogues you shall be beaten … dragging you before kings and governors, for My Name’s sake … for a testimony to them and to the Gentiles! … Be not solicitous how or what you shall answer, or what you shall say―for the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what you must say” (Luke 21:12; 12:11; Mark 13:9; Matthew 10:18).

► WE MUST PRAY FOR THOSE IN AUTHORITY OVER US―We do not always like those who are in authority over us. Some may even show enmity towards us or towards the Faith. Holy Scripture explicitly commands that we pray for our rulers, governors and leaders: “I desire therefore, first of all, that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all men! For kings, and for all that are in high station! … For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, Who will have all men to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:1-4).

So, you have a non-Catholic ruler―then pray for him or her, for what Holy Scripture says of the family, is also true for a community, state or country: “The unbelieving husband is sanctified by the believing wife; and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the believing husband” (1 Corinthians 7:14).

Our Lord says: “Love your enemies! Do good to them that hate you―and pray for them that persecute and calumniate you! ― so that you may be the children of your Father Who is in Heaven, Who maketh His sun to rise upon the good, and bad, and raineth upon the just and the unjust. For if you love them that love you, what reward shall you have? Do not even the publicans this? And if you salute your brethren only―what do you more? Do not also the heathens this? Be you therefore perfect, as also your heavenly Father is perfect!” (Matthew 5:44-48).

This why Our Lady has always asked for prayers and sacrifices for the conversion of sinners. Conversion comes from God―it is an act of God’s grace―we, of ourselves, can convert nobody. We might think we convert people―but in reality it is invisible grace, working behind the scenes, that converts souls. We must pay for that work―just as we would pay a doctor, a mechanic, an electrician, a plumber or any other skilled artisan for healing our body or fixing our possessions. Conversions are not cheap! A few Hail Marys “just ain’t gonna cut it!” We rarely pray for those in authority―and when we do pray, we pray far too little (quantity) and with very little fervor (quality).

That is why the world is in the mess it finds itself in; that is why non-Catholics are not converted; and that is why the political and financial stooges of Satan have the upper-hand. As we sow, so shall we reap! “For what things a man shall sow, those also shall he reap” (Galatians 6:8). “He who soweth sparingly, shall also reap sparingly” (2 Corinthians 9:6).

Our Lady of La Salette states that―due to our neglect in prayer and penance―all will seem lost. “The righteous will suffer greatly. Their prayers, their penances and their tears will rise up to Heaven and all of God’s people will beg for forgiveness and mercy and will plead for my help and intercession!” What are we waiting for? Some Messianic politician? The Messias is Christ, not a politician. The power of remedying the Church and the world is Christ’s power―not the power of some politician or country! We plug into that power when we get on our knees and plug the ‘cord’ of the Rosary into Heaven’s socket.

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