We have very timely readings today – on this Inauguration Day in our country! The theme of the readings is HOPE! The theme of "life in Christ" is always HOPE! The theme of any incoming new president of our country is most often: HOPE – hope for a better tomorrow, hope for changes that are necessary, hope for adjustments that are ethical, moral and truly helpful for all constituents: the HOPE that this new president is already bringing, even before the installation, seems to a great degree to be real, authentic and genuine.
The HOPE of the Old Testament, referred to in the first reading today was that God is always faithful to his promises. God – made an oath (is this not
"the highlighted word" of this day?) – swearing by himself because he is God – to be faithful to all of the descendants of Abraham who had faith in him – and in the story that would unfold in front of them.
In the gospel passage today, Jesus makes it clear that – in being the one to fulfill everything that came before him – including all of the written prescriptions and customs of ritual significance – NEW HOPE was to be centered in HIM (as a person). He, as Son of Man (who is also Son of God) is "lord even of the Sabbath," indeed, he is lord over every aspect of life: everyone is subject to him and his kingship over them – even new presidents and rulers of countries. All authority comes from God; and all in authority will have to give an accounting directly to God for the use of the temporary power over others that have been loaned to them.
On this Inauguration Day then, we pray that Mr. Obama will be open to receiving all of the graces that are rightfully his as duly appointed leader over us. And may he always keep in mind that he represents each and every one of us, in every decision that he makes: from the unborn, to the poor, to the educated, to the workers, to the imprisoned, to the terminally ill and dying. May he listen to what all of us have to say before doing anything contrary to what a great many of us might hold dear in our hearts!
May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ enlighten the eyes of his heart that he may know what is the One True HOPE that belongs to his call and ours: and what is involved in bringing that HOPE to all others – without fail!
Eternal, Unchangeable God,
Father of us all, our Origin, our Guide and Our Goal.
Out of nothing you created the Universe and all that is in it.
You have ordered all things according to your great Wisdom and Plan.
You are Lord, and Master of us all!
Since creation is an objective visible manifestation of your love: objective reality exists. Right, Truth, Goodness, Beauty, Justice can and have existed totally apart from and independent of any of us.
But You have given us human beings intelligence and free-will, loving Creator, so that we might cooperate with You rationally and freely and choose that which is Reasonable; Right and True and Good and Beautiful and Just for own welfare and the welfare of others you have given us to be responsible for, to help along the pilgrim way back to You – any other use, is misuse.
And so, God, Father all powerful, we ask you with your Son, Jesus – who died a brutal death on the Cross to Redeem us – and forgive all our sins – to send the Holy Spirit upon President Obama from the first moment of his administration – so that your very Wisdom and Understanding and Courage will deeply move him to always seek only what is truly best for all the citizens of this country – to do what is objectively Right, True, Good, Beautiful and Just for himself, his family and for all of us – his new "family of constituents" who are bound to observe the just laws that he legislates.
Amen.
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