Prayer and Politics

With all that troubles the Catholic Church, I find I'm grateful for the feast days that fill the calendar. It helps me keep focused on the long arc of history and the faithful presence of God and God's people. Today commemorates the Birth of Mary. Perhaps not surprising in light of the past weeks' focus on the Democratic and Republican conventions, but I found my reflection on the daily readings this morning meandering toward politics.

The first reading from the prophet Micah says that the ancestors of 'One who shall be Peace' are a nobody tribe. Peterson's translation in "The Message" says that from 'the runt of the litter' whose 'family tree is ancient and distinguished' will come 'the Peacemaker of the world.' Matthew's gospel picks up this theme with the genealogy of Jesus: 3 x 14 generations who had been faithful to God through all kinds of scandals and heroism, in-laws and outlaws, exile and return, culminating in his birth to Mary and Joseph in an out of the way place in a dirty mess of a stable to parents who would soon be displaced people and on the run. This little God-with-us is the ultimate Peacemaker.

The conventions each had their turn on the 'life issues' of war and abortion.The Democrats want to bring a peaceful end to the war in Iraq, but are still rattling sabers and loosing lives fighting the Taliban. And while they would see that access to abortion is kept safe and legal, they are not strong enough promoting policy changes that would lead to women with unexpected and untimely pregnancies keep their child with their own families, or place with adoptive parents. Then there are the Republicans who on one hand want to continue both wars that cannot be won while loosing more lives on all sides, and on the other hand, would flat-out make abortion illegal. This would undoubtedly result in the death of women and their unborn children, especially the poor who won't have the economic access to medical alternatives, and return to back alley procedures. And what of the other life issues so closely tied to the differing economic policies and poverty in our country and elsewhere. On balance, my vote will be for Obama and the Democrats. He at least seems to be trying to lead us to collectively find a 'third option' through issues that have become polarizing to the point of paralyzing.

A moral theology teacher once challenged our class with the idea that you can't legislate morality. War and abortion are moral issues, life issues, justice issues. Aren't all these lives worth saving? Worth living? And even into this mess, Jesus is born. It helped me to be reminded of Jesus' roots, shaky beginnings, and God's continued faithfulness through all generations.