We are one day away from one of the most important days in the history of world, or so we are told.
It’s Monday, November 7, the day before the United State elects its next President, often referred to as the leader of the free world. That’s a giant title and a giant responsibility.
No endorsements here, but it is interesting that today’s first reading from Paul includes a recipe for finding a person worthy of serving as a leader of our Church back in the day.
Paul tells Titus …
“For a bishop as God’s steward must be blameless, not arrogant, not irritable, not a drunkard, not aggressive, not greedy for sordid gain, but hospitable, a lover of goodness, temperate, just, holy, and self-controlled, holding fast to the true message as taught so that he will be able both to exhort with sound doctrine and to refute opponents.”
Very high ideals for leadership! Ideals that are not always present in those who serve as leaders – be they dictators, royalty or those elected by the people of a particular country.
And, I would add, not all religious leaders rise to the level of expectation that Paul was demanding of our early bishops.
And yet … despite the flaws of its human leaders, the Church and many a nation have survived. This is an important lesson today as millions of Americans head to the polls on Tuesday to elect a president.
There is great fear – or perhaps just a lot of hyperbole – that the fate of the world rests in the decision to be made on Tuesday. And there is some truth to that.
Whenever a great leader rises or falls in a major country – be that in Europe, Africa, Asia or elsewhere across God’s earth – there will be consequences.
Likewise, whenever a bishop, especially the Bishop of Rome, rises or passes on, there are ramifications across the globe – not just for the faithful, but for all of humanity.
In today’s reading, Paul is working hard to make sure early church leaders are men of good faith and excellent reputation. Strong morals and stronger backbones to withstand the opposition they will surely face.
Without a doubt, many of those early church leaders rose to that occasion. Some became saints.
Many of today’s church leaders have also risen to that high ideal set forth by Paul. At the same time, many world leaders have done the same.
And some have not.
Still … here we are.
The church survives the weakness of man. Nations do, as well … usually.
God is ultimately in charge … always.
That may sound to some as a cop-out … an excuse for whatever may happen on Tuesday. But it is true. Jesus was pretty clear when he told the bombastic Pilate during his Passion that the Roman leader would not be in charge were it not for the will of his father in heaven.
The same can be said for leaders throughout history. Read the Old Testament and see how God raised up or took down kings and leaders.
Ultimately, I believe it is our goal to do all we can to support our nations and our earth, but to also remember that this is not our end goal.
Our end goal is beyond this life.
In the Gospel today, Jesus tells us that sin will always be with us. It is our human nature. We can’t avoid the frailties of humanity, but we can respond in an appropriate way.
“Things that cause sin will inevitably occur …
“Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he wrongs you seven times in one day and returns to you seven times saying, ‘I am sorry,’ you should forgive him.”
You may not be too pleased with the winner of the election on Tuesday. You may worry about the future of our nation.
But what you can’t do is lose hope for the world or for its occupants. As Christians, we must fight against despair and always have hope for what is to come.
As world leaders rise and fall, the church and her people must continue to “hold fast to the true message” of our hope in salvation in the Lord. And by our faith and our actions, we will prevail and help others prevail … no matter who wins the popular vote.
