Whom do we welcome

 On the eve of another election, we are conscious of the many slogans which can be used to encourage us in casting our ballots. The fact that this will occur during Holy Week and the initial days of Easter asks a basic question about who we are and whose we are? Most election campaigns seek to win hearts and minds about a better vision for the future. The question of course is not just about how we cast our ballot but rather who we believe we can become as a nation. Often the slogans express an internal hope which seeks to be expressed in external action. This is certainly the reality that Jesus confronts when entering Jerusalem the crowds gather in great numbers believing that he is the Messiah who will liberate them from oppression. However, this quickly turns to disappointment and outrage when he does not provide what they want. The mob turns on him stirred up by those who see him as a threat to themselves and suddenly hosanna turns to crucify him.

So how should we prepare during this time? I believe the first lesson of Lent is that we are drawn into a deeper communion of prayer with God and each other. This calls us to notice our own inner contradictions and the dualism which can exist within our own hearts. Where we seek salvation but on our own terms. Prayer allows us to notice our own inner demons and the things that prevent us from seeking solidarity with God and the Christian community. We come to prayer out of our great need and our own vulnerability to be moved by bad spirits which besiege us. We need this deeper communion so that we can build up the defenses which seduce, isolate and assault us at our weakest point. We are called to be a people who are formed into a union with God through our common struggles.

The next is to notice how we can become attached to certain ways of behaving which can divide us one against the other. This is particularly noticeable during an election when one side will seek to demonize the other while seeking to become paragons of virtue. This is where a Lectio on the words that are used in a campaign can be helpful to see whether they bring unity between what touches our hearts and what informs our minds to act for the good of all and not just ourselves. Elections are about forming a polity in which all voices can be heard and in which unity is formed for the good of all.

Lastly, we need to build a culture that reflects and inculturates Christian values within the society. This seeks to build a culture of life that respects the dignity of human life and the whole of creation. An election campaign touches on a sense of fairness and justice that allows people to flourish. This of its nature seeks to ensure a distribution of resources that is equitable and does not condemn people to a life of poverty. That people have the ability to seek the basic goods of life in housing, healthcare, education, and productive work. In a society where the nature of utility is often determined by wealth, success, and relevance we are challenged to recognize that our fundamental worth is built on what makes us fully human. In an election, it is not the promises made that make the difference but rather the qualities of the person who we seek to build a nation that is not selfish and grasping but is rather generous and benevolent. This seeks the common good not just for ourselves but for the good of all especially our poorer neighbors. In all things, we seek God to guide our hearts to make wise and prudent choices for the good of all.