...though you were ministers of his kingdom, you judged not rightly,
and did not keep the law,
nor walk according to the will of God,
Terribly and swiftly shall he come against you,
because judgment is stern for the exalted–
For the lowly may be pardoned out of mercy
but the mighty shall be mightily put to the test.
To aspire to any kind of power -- political, financial, military, or social -- while pursuing one's personal gain instead of God's will and the common good, can only be called rank stupidity. Or foolishness, as the Bible calls it.
Much is expected of those to whom much is given. That should be obvious to anyone, whether they know the Lord or not, whether they have encountered the scriptures or not. We have only to listen to the conversations of those around us to understand how much people expect of their leaders, and how they despise those who use power to serve themselves.
Christians worship One who said, "I have not come to be served, but to serve." Choosing to follow him, they aspire to serve rather than being served. We also worship the Almighty God who has surrendered all authority in heaven and on earth to a human being, "one like us in all things but sin." (Hebrews 4:15)
I remember my own surprise as a student in Saint Louis, when Father Larry Mattingly, the guardian of our community and the head of formation, went from table to table in the dining room, refilling our water glasses. Anyone of us was perfectly capable of doing it ourselves; we certainly didn't expect the one with the greatest authority to take the least position. A half-century later I can only hope I demonstrate the same kind of leadership.
The Lord has severe words for those who abuse their power. Whenever we, the electorate, vote for our representatives in federal, state, and local government, whether as executives, legislators, or judges, we should pray most sincerely for their souls. And we must warn those who seem to be serving themselves. Terribly and swiftly shall He come against them!
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I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.