Are you Voting Antichrist?

I am inundated these days with e-mails and phone calls and people spouting what they've heard in the news or on TV, telling me how crucial it is to vote for so-and-so, and how they have the unique ability to save our nation or destroy our nation or whatever issue happens to be foremost in their minds.

So I've got to say it again.

I don't care how nice one politician seems, or how knowledgeable, or conservative, or courageous, or pro-life, or...fill in the blank with whatever word you see fit.

By nature, politics are of this world, and even the most moral, upright citizen faces great danger when given power over others. In addition, moral, upright citizens are not only more or less unelectable, but they would be utterly miserable serving the machine that is politics.

So I don't care how moral this or that politician seems, or even is. Barring an unprecedented and cataclysmic change in Washington, it won't make a spot of difference. Stop trying to convince me otherwise.

I say Rubbish.

What is now underway has been coming for well over a century, and who is in power will make precious little difference. It's in God's hands now.

All of these arguments are nothing more than the delusions of those who are still desperately clinging to the notion that we have control over the events that are now taking place, and that will take place in the near future.

In a way, it is good to retain that sort of hope for the future, like when actors on a stage attempt to save a performance gone horribly awry, partially for their own sake as much as for the sake of the audience.

Understand that I have not discarded hope: rather, I have discarded the notion that a name on a ballot will change anything whatsoever. Satan is the prince of this world, and the battle to remove him is not ours. We vote for him every time we put our own needs ahead of others. If I shall vote, it shall be through attempting to rid myself of this habit.

My hope now is in the triumph of the Immaculate Heart, which will not be affected by any votes and is still a few years of horrible suffering away.

If all of this makes you feel impotent, then pray fervently and offer sacrifices for the conversion of sinners. Give to others every chance you get, even if it is only your prayers. Seek ways to share of your abundance with those who are in need. Seek only that profit which is spiritual, and forgo financial profit.

God is merciful and has given us a great gift in this monetary collapse. I'm sure that it is hard to see it that way, but just think: losing the comfort and security of our possessions helps us to let go of our worldly addictions and put our whole trust in Him! This is the greatest of gifts!

We might be thankful that God has seen fit to begin in this way, rather than plunging us first into war, famine, or pestilence--though they will come in their due time.

The sacrifices of the coming year will be beneficial for the sake of souls, if perhaps not so much for our bodies. Right now God is especially pleased by fasting, whether it be fasting from food or from other indulgences. We must offer our sufferings for the sake of those who cannot now see past despair and worry. Each mortification brings with it the possibility that another soul may be saved from eternal suffering.

In summation, what is now happening has been preordained for millennia. This house is condemned to be destroyed down to its very foundation: ought we to fret that it has twisted and missing floorboards, or that it has gaping holes in the walls? These are the very reasons why it is condemned. Those who would convince you that this or that politician will be better than that one at fixing the problem are, in essence, attempting to salvage the condemned house. It will not be saved. It will be rebuilt, and this time it will be built by the hand of God, and it will last unto eternity.
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This is our travail

With the financial storm looming overhead, it is natural to spend our time thinking about what we can possibly do to insulate ourselves against calamity. Our natural instincts turn to providing for ourselves and for our loved ones, as it is precisely times like these that "survival of the fittest" becomes the name of the game.

Yet, while that is the way of the world, we know that the ways of the world are not God's ways. In my worldly desire to plan ahead, I am thinking of money, and how to best preserve our supply of it. But in turning to scripture, I reminded of what money is really for:

And the people rejoiced, when they promised their offerings willingly: because they offered them to the Lord with all their heart: and David the king rejoiced also with a great joy. And he blessed the Lord before all the multitude, and he said: Blessed art thou, O Lord the God of Israel, our father from eternity to eternity.

Thine, O Lord, is magnificence, and power, and glory, and victory: and to thee is praise: for all that is in heaven, and in earth, is thine: thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and thou art above all princes. Thine are riches, and thine is glory, thou hast dominion over all, in thy hand is power and might: in thy hand greatness, and the empire of all things. Now therefore our God we give thanks to thee, and we praise thy glorious name. Who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to promise thee all these things? all things are thine: and we have given thee what we received of thy hand. For we are sojourners before thee, and strangers, as were all our fathers. Our days upon earth are as a shadow, and there is no stay.

O Lord our God, all this store that we have prepared to build thee a house for thy holy name, is from thy hand, and all things are thine.

(1 Chronicles/Paralipomenon 29:9-16)

In these times, it is not ourselves or even our loved ones that we are supposed to be worrying about.

For he that will save his life, shall lose it: and he that shall lose his life for my sake, shall find it.
(Matthew 16:25)

It is so easy in our fight for survival to think that the greatest good is to preserve one's life and livelihood. But life and livelihood come not from our own power, and they quickly pass away into eternity.

...be not solicitous for your life, what you shall eat; nor for your body, what you shall put on... which of you, by taking thought, can add to his stature one cubit?

If then ye be not able to do so much as the least thing, why are you solicitous for the rest? For your Father knoweth that you have need of these things.

But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his justice, and all these things shall be added unto you. Fear not, little flock, for it hath pleased your Father to give you a kingdom. Sell what you possess and give alms. Make to yourselves bags which grow not old, a treasure in heaven which faileth not: where no thief approacheth, nor moth corrupteth.

(Luke 12:22, 25, 26, 30-33)

We ought not to be thinking like the rich man--our whole mind must be turned now to the Lazaruses who lie suffering at our doorstep. And as we beg the Lord to help bear our burdens, so must we bear one another's burdens.

We must fight our impulse to save, hoard and protect.

Instead we must give, serve and love.

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