Planes, Trains, and Strangers

At the sight of the crowds, Jesus’ heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd.

Matthew 9:36

There's an interesting experience one sometimes encounters when stepping onto a crowded bus, train, or plane. Gazing at the crowd of strangers of various backgrounds, origins and ethnicities, and knowing that each is related to one by a common creator yet separated by a fallen history, there exists a tendency to question in one's mind which of these souls might share a common baptism in Christ. This is done not in a judgmental fashion, but rather approximates the empathy with Our Lord when he saw the crowds and thirsted for their salvation.

Granted, not every one has this experience. One who has no knowledge of Jesus, or who has immersed himself into the fantastical belief of a non-communal, purely individualistic, personal relationship with Christ likely does not ponder this thought. For the believer who has been given the treasure of faith, the drive to share this treasure can often lead one to venture into a desire to proclaim the Gospel yet prudence dictates a more reserved response. Suddenly bursting into preaching likely would get one tossed under the bus or escorted off the plane by Homeland Security officials.

So the only resource left, which is highly underrated, remains prayer. A simple prayer that all those strangers within one's midst might one day share in the wedding feast. This prayer is not made with arrogance like the Pharisee in the parable who engaged in a prayer of self-puffery and then thanked God that he wasn't like the tax collector who had come into the temple to pray. It is a humble prayer of hope that at the very least one might have the opportunity impart what one has come to believe because the truth is so mysteriously awesome.

What proves more wondrous is when one walks into a Catholic church away from one's own home parish. Here, too, are a group of strangers, but the sense of being alone quickly evaporates as more brothers and sisters in communion gather to encounter the mass. One might be a distant relative, but no matter what parish church a Catholic Christian finds his way into, a sense of being home exists.

The question, today, is when Christ catches sight of the crowd with whom does His pity rest? It's tempting to conclude that it must be with that crowd of non-believers that one might presume occupy the majority of seats on the plane. In point of fact, the possibility must be considered that His pity finds its way to the priestly people who are supposed to take his word to the masses, but choose not to do so.

Consider for a moment that the uninformed maintain a degree of innocence by virtue of ignorance. Those who have heard the good news but rejected it have had their fair shake. But those who have accepted the Gospel, but then choose to keep it to themselves or at the most keep it within the confines of the walls of their church are perhaps the ones in most need of Christ's mercy. God gives few exclusive gifts to the individual. Most are given for the benefit of others, and the soul that has had faith leavened by grace has indeed experienced a windfall of wealth that must flow to the community at large.

The form of this sharing corresponds to the gifts one has been given. For some it might be simply living the Christian life for others to witness. Some are called to teach and still others to preach, but regardless, the talents must be multiplied for the glory of God.

Just a thought to ponder the next time one steps onto the plane, bus or train.

Divine Right of Kings

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore he who resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of him who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God's servant for your good.

Romans (RSV) 13:1-4

St. Paul asked the Roman Christians to not worry about the pagan rulers of the day but rather he implored the early believers to have a little faith that God had the situation under control to the point of advancing the idea that even the pagan ruler was a result of the will of God. That was likely a hard pill to swallow for the early Church. Today, that same message might prove a little more difficult to choke down. How many Republicans would concede that Bill Clinton was president for eight years because of the will of God? Probably only slightly fewer than the number of Democrats who would boldly proclaim that George W. Bush is President today for the same reason.

And yet, St. Augustine took this concept and ran with it in his twenty-two volume, De civitate Dei (The City of God) when he emphasized that while the aims of man often run against the Divine, nevertheless, the person placed into a position of authority over man gains his authority solely to serve the ultimate will of God. No matter how rapacious for power or personal gain the day's politician might be; no matter how inept; or no matter how downright evil; whomever gains the throne owes his rise to the Almighty even if the ruler is too blind or corrupt to see it.

These are hard words indeed. For taken to the next level, if one believes that the ruler gains authority from God, then on what basis can one question the authority of said ruler? For to do so questions the very will of God. Such was the argument of many a monarch born during and shortly after the Reformation. Borrowing from Augustine, and slightly twisting his meaning, they interpreted sacred scripture to mean that God not only gives authority to the ruler but literally ordains him, too. The king answers to God and God alone and as such his wisdom must also be considered of heavenly origin and certainly not questioned.

Of course St. Paul never had in mind this wishful thinking by these kings who often exercised their Divine Right in spectacularly sinful ways. Nowhere does he suggest that one should follow a bad leader into immorality. Were that the case, Heaven would be occupied by far fewer martyrs. No, the message clearly reminds the reader that the authority for man to be ruled by kings, presidents, and the like is a gift from God, but it falls on the shoulders of person gifted with this position to conform with God's will. If he doesn't, those subjected to him might indeed suffer and might even die, but that ruler possesses no power over them greater than the love of Christ.

This should be a warning to those who seek leadership over people. For if one finds oneself in a position of authority, one has a huge responsibility to do the will of God which as Christ demonstrated is a ministry of service and gift of self. The Church's first Pope, St. Peter, also reveals the special place authorities have when he writes:

Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a clear conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers subject to him.

1 Peter(RSV) 3:21-22

The leaders of a nation are subject to Christ which ultimately means they answer to Him. They have been given more by being placed in a position of power, and more is expected. To abuse such power may endanger more than their electability. Indeed, their very souls stand at risk.

Let all pray that the people who have been given the gift of public service be open to the grace that comes with such high levels of responsibility. Let them truly be as St. Paul proclaims, God's servants for good.