To whitewash means to gloss over errors, hide unpleasant facts, alter the truth. It’s not surprising that sometimes politicians and others provide their own spin at the expense of opponents. Truth often gets lost in finger-pointing, and we’re left wondering who’s on the level. That leaves us, as voters, sifting through “facts” that are sometimes clear as mud.
Truth shouldn’t be such a thorny issue. As we work to figure things out, the beauty of these seven themes of Catholic social teaching serve as an important resource: 1) Life and Dignity of the Human Person; 2) Call to Family, Community and Participation; 3) Rights and Responsibilities; 4) Option for the Poor and Vulnerable; 5) The Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers; 6) Solidarity; 7) Care for God’s Creation.
We may not always agree, but I believe God’s wisdom is ours to draw from—especially as we near the voting booth.
To whitewash is to gloss over errors, hide unpleasant facts, alter the truth… More than a political issue, As Christians, we all know “who” are “where” the duplicity originates. God makes things simple for us. We are the ones who allow the confusion to enter our hearts, our souls, our tongues, and divide us. We are told to accept that God’s gender assignment could be a mistake and a child should be able to decide, instead. Sometimes, without parental consent. We are told that a baby in the womb is a mistake and the expectant mother, at any time, should be the decider on whether it lives or dies, even if the decision is made during the actual birthing process. We are told that our country was founded on basic biblical principals and the rule of law, but many of those principals have been shunned and the rule of law is mocked everyday by groups of people whose first step across the border is to indeed break the law, rather than enter according to law. We can argue for days about the “whitewashing” of which the Bible speaks and how it is practiced today. My prayer today and everyday is for my grandchildren, and their future - where someday “The Light” will be so bright, so known, so understood, that the tendency or practice of whitewashing will become obsolete.
Amen, Mimi!
******* Borrowing Paul's prayer for the Thessalonians for us during such time as this in US in 2 Thessalonians 3:16, 18, "May the Lord Who gives peace give you peace at all times and in every way. May the Lord be with all of you...May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all!" *** Just as GHH quoted, "No matter who wins an election, with God, all will be well, all will be well, all manner of things will be well! (Julian of Norwich)" *** With one candidate wins the election, we receive grace: Getting what we don't deserve! With another candidate wins the election, we receive mercy: Not getting what we deserve! *** 2 John 1:3, "God the Father and Jesus Christ His Son will give you grace, mercy and peace. These blessings will be with us because we love the truth!" Amen!!!
There is only one decision to make at the voting booth this November. Do you want to continue to live in a Democratic country or a dictatorship? Please ponder and pray about that!
Doug, wrong forum to display your political views.
To my dear LF Ken and Cheryl, I don’t know if it’s me or another Peggy in the group who you’re asking for prayers. If it’s me, thank you and may God bless you richly. If it’s another Peggy, I pray for her and her son today as well. My heart is with Vicky this morning as her son undergoes a major surgery and I pray that he and the whole family feel Our Lord’s presence hold Him close to them while they wait and pray for good results of the procedure. I would like to ask for prayers for my daughter as she’ll be having a biopsy today to determine the cause of her gynological problems. Thank God for all of you!
Thankyou dear Peggy for all the prayers you’ve offered up for the rest of us, you are such a faithful friend. Praying today for your daughter that all will be well. Also praying for Vicky’s son today that surgery will be successful. A day of waiting for both your families.
Thank you Gail for today’s devotional. The words, “God’s wisdom is ours to draw from, especially as we enter the voting booth” are so true. However, in order to be able to follow God’s wisdom we have to remember the words of the gospel about those who whitewash their plans and their actions and in order to see beneath the whitewash we need to know what is there. What are their plans, what have they done in the past to show their concern or ability to lead our great country, are they being forthright and transparent? There is no perfect choice because each has whitewashed some things, but through prayer and discernment we each need to make the best choice possible with what we have seen for ourselves to be true. God help us as we discern and God help our country in this crucial time.
Beautifully put, Anne. So many folks concentrate on just one issue or the soundbites they hear that confirm their internal, unconscious bias (me included). Faith is the humility to look beyond our emotional triggers and trust God. No matter who wins an election, with God, all will be well, all will be well, all manner of things will be well (Julian of Norwich).
"Lord Jesus, incline my heart to your wisdom and teach me your ways. Fill me with your Holy Spirit that I may love your ways and obey your word." Amen
Gail, thank you for your reflection today. The line “Truth shouldn’t be such a thorny issue” sparked in my the sorrowful mystery of the rosary that is Crowning with Thorns whose fruit is moral courage. The truth frequently requires moral courage. That’s exactly why it becomes so thorny. May God grant us the moral courage to navigate the thorns and live the truth. Vicky, asking for God to be with the surgical team that works on your son today to provide reconstructive healing. May God be with you and your family. Continued prayers for Susan who has a team of many doctors trying to identify the source of her illness. Amen.
Good morning Jane, I join you in prayer for Susan today and I hope the medical team can find the source of her illness. Dearest Jesus, please keep Susan very close to you, the source of all strength.
Hello Gail, another great reflection on dealing with the selfish ego that lies within us all. There’s been a trend in the readings and LF reflections since 24 August covering the subject of hypocrisy. Today you introduce us to Catholic social teachings to help us to check and balance. The Old Testament gave us the Ten Commandments, the New Testament gave us the beatitudes. So it looks like our ego and hidden agendas are tough nuts to crack, we need rules and directions My wife and I went on a marriage programme, we needed it badly. One of the subjects covered was called Encounter With Self. It made we realise some of our marriage problems resulted from baggage I carried consciously or unconsciously into the relationship. It began the toughest but most rewarding emotional journey I ever embarked on. I’m still on it, it’s not tough anymore. I love gardening my soul and removing the weeds. Some of them have deep roots and some keep reseeding. But once we determine to stay at it, it bears fruit. Richard Shakespeare, in Hamlet, Act1 Scene 3 also pointed out the need to be truthful about ourselves “This above all: to thine own self be true, And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man.” John 8: 31-32 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
Very true, Patrick! When we don’t know the Word, we don’t know Jesus, and we are slaves to our own desires and justifications (and baggages)! We are not free!!! John 1:1-2, 14, “In the beginning, the Word was already there. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning… The Word became a human being. He made His home with us. We have seen His glory. It is the glory of the One and Only, Who came from the Father. And the Word was full of grace and truth!”
Thank you Patrick….beautiful reflection. You are on a wonderful journey. Amen.
Our archbishop stated the first theme is the preeminent consideration. He also stated it is not the only theme when decision time comes. Let’s keep in mind the other six.
Number one on the list is the foundation of and the reason for all the other six!!! Without life, the other six are just to make us feel better about ourselves!!! *** Proverbs 14:12, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death!” *** 2 Timothy 4:3-4, “The time will come when people won’t put up with true teaching. Instead, they will try to satisfy their own desires. They will gather a large number of teachers around them. The teachers will say what the people want to hear. The people will turn their ears away from the truth. They will turn to stories that aren’t true!” ***
Lord please hear our prayers and bring your light to all those experiencing natural disasters, and those in Haiti, the Middle East, Ukraine, Russia, Darfur, the Sudan, in addition to all those suffering around the world - also for their strength, courage and resilience to continue walking in faith. Send them your light. Father in Heaven, have mercy on us and on the whole world! You sent Your Son, the Prince of Peace, for the salvation of the world. We pray that the Peace of Christ will reign in Haiti, the Middle East, Ukraine, Russia, Darfur and Sudan. Please protect and send aid to those in need and all who are at-risk. We pray for peace and rebuilding– we who are working towards it and for all those who are suffering or in danger from conflicts. We pray for an end to violence and war – we pray for wisdom for all leaders who have a hand in this. Lord God please help those in most need of thy mercy. Amen.
Thank you, Gail, for this excellent primer on the seven themes. We have the unique ability that many countries lack. If we move past the hyperbole and concentrate on those examples of the Catholic teachings, we can have a better idea of what decisions we should make at that same voting booth.
I couldn’t agree with you more, Linda! How any Christian can vote against pro-life or any Catholic politicians are against pro-life is beyond my understanding!?!?!? Yes, the blind guides…….not speaking out!?!?!?!
I wish every Catholic would take this thought into the voting booth….. Thou Shalt Not Kill. It’s really quite simple. Life is what matters. I also wish our priests and bishops would emphasize this during election season.
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Thank you all for giving me much to pray for and much to ponder!