A Homily based on Isaiah 53: 10-11

It seems that conflict has become the norm these days. Well, many centuries ago, the prophet Isaiah faced much conflict as well. The details in his time were different, of course, but the conflict was just as threatening. And he struggled with “What am I to do?” The conviction he came away with was that he was to hold on to truth, press on, and “he shall see the light in fullness of days” (Is 53:11a).

The conflict in our times is especially high in election season, the time when we Americans are called upon to select, by secret ballot, those who will govern us, and those propositions that will shape our way of life. And much of what is before us involves very fundamental matters: life, family, gender, safety. For some months now we have heard the teachings of the church on many of these fundamental matters.

The Book of Isaiah tells us that, on several occasions, when Isaiah felt overwhelmed, he went back to basics, and sought the wisdom and mercy of God. And we, too, need to do the same. In our going back to basics, we may find that wisdom and mercy of God sought in what may be, for some, a most unexpected place: the US Constitution.

The preamble to our constitution states that the founding fathers wanted to form a union of many diverse peoples that they might “come together for the common good.” The preamble made clear what they meant by the common good - justice, domestic tranquility, common defense, general welfare, and the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity.

Notice that the document that set forth the very purpose of the union of the United States of America acknowledge that the common good involves the wisdom and mercy of a Creator Being, God. For if there’s no God involved, then there is no such thing as blessings. So, in America, the interpretation of “the common good” relies on precepts that transcend ourselves. That’s the essence of morality - distinguishing between good and bad based on guiding precepts lying outside those being guided.

The Constitution does not speak about a union to provide for what people want. Rather it’s to provide for the common good guided by sound moral principles: not by whims, not by force of arms, not even by majority rule, but the precepts that transcend ourselves. That is, the “common good” around which we come together as Americans is to stand on the foundation of God-given moral principles, not principles solely formulated by man.

So, in this election season surrounded by much conflict, we returned to basics. We consider each proposition or candidate on the ballot and answer for ourselves: does this proposition or candidate advocate for the common good guided by God given moral principles? If yes, we vote “yes”; if no, we vote “no.” At its most basic level, that’s what being an American in the voting booth is all about. Now, many may say: “But some what is presented by this proposition or candidate is morally sound, and some isn’t. I am not being presented with a black or white choice here.” Our good Pope Francis recently advised that in those cases, we are to “choose the lesser of two evils” (News Conference, September 13, 2024).

Do we not do it to ourselves and our posterity to select those leaders and propositions that promote the morally-sound common good which our nation was founded as “one nation under God?” (US Pledge of Allegiance).

Deacon Bob, Fr. Kilian, Fr. Samuel, and Deacons Parish Staff and Volunteers.

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