It looks like the betrayal of our country is now complete.
The (Republican) state legislatures and the (conservative) federal judges have caved. The (Republican) members of Congress have also stuck their heads in the sand and certified what many are calling a totally fraudulent election. And the (conservative) Supreme Court has betrayed the Constitution. On top of this, the (Republican) Vice President has washed his hands of all responsibility for the future of our nation.
Worst of all, in my mind, is that our religious leaders, as a body, have gone utterly silent in the face of the worst spiritual crisis facing our nation – ever. They will have to answer to God, not to me, for their atrocious negligence that has created a spiritual vacuum into which all the demons of hell seem to have rushed.
In my opinion, every level of government, every democratic institution, every source of spiritual refuge has betrayed our President and our nation. In fact, they’ve betrayed us.
We expect the Left to be what they are. “For the children of this world are more prudent in dealing with their own generation than are the children of light,” said the Lord (Luke 16:8). But we didn’t expect the Right to betray us so completely.
So, where is the hope now? What are we to do at the prospect of the loss of everything we hold dear?
Simple answer: Hope is not a program, it is a pathway.
The Road to Emmaus
It is a familiar story. Luke’s Gospel features two disciples walking from Jerusalem to the town of Emmaus some seven miles away. They were talking about another great betrayal – that of the Son of God by the leaders of their day.
“Our chief priests and rulers both handed him over to a sentence of death and crucified him,” they recounted (Luke 24:20).
They were understandably dejected at the utter mockery of justice they had just witnessed. In fact, they were scandalized beyond belief. Most of us now feel the same way.
And as always happens in the face of a human tragedy like that, the two disciples express their dashed hopes for what could have been: “But we were hoping that he would be the one to redeem Israel…” (Luke 24:21).
Yes, they were hoping. But did they give up hope too soon? Did they get lost in the tragedy and miss the hidden victory? Apparently so.
We know the rest of the story. During our Lord’s meal with the disciples, “their eyes were opened and they recognized him” (Luke 24:31) in the breaking of bread. We can’t imagine the joy of that encounter! Their hearts were “burning within them” as He spoke to them and encouraged them.
An Ominous Future?
But there is something fundamental here: WE are heirs to that mystical fire in the heart. Our hearts have that same gift of Christ’s presence, especially those of us who are privileged to partake of the Eucharist regularly.
He still speaks to us words of zeal and encouragement in times of stress. And He still walks with us. We must be careful not to give up hope too soon.
Yes, the recent miscarriage of justice hangs like a black cloud over our nation. Yes, lawless criminals seem to be in charge of everything. And yes, like the disciples walking to Emmaus, we are totally heartbroken not only because of recent events but also because the future looks ominous.
Or does it?
The Paschal Mystery
Christ is still in charge. He often allows evil its “hour” (Luke 22:53) as He did in His own passion and death. That was nothing short of the greatest act of injustice in history.
And, God allowed it.
There must have been a reason. That event is what we call the Paschal Mystery, and a mystery can never be totally fathomed by the human mind.
At the same time, we have seen its fruits:
- Ultimate victory over death.
- The Resurrection.
- The unleashing of rivers of grace into the sin-corrupted world.
The gates of hell have been shattered and will never again prevail against those who believe. After that one event, the devil’s power is utterly broken.
The Devil Shrieks
In Mel Gibson’s Passion of the Christ, there is a scene which shows the face of the devil at the moment Jesus died on the Cross. It transpires in a few quick seconds on film but is actually the most chilling scene of the whole movie.
The camera pans from above as a teardrop falls from heaven onto the hill of Calvary directly in front of the Cross. The Father weeps for His Son. From there, the camera descends below the earth to a scene of desert-like desolation – it is the very picture of hell.
Everything is dark and obscure. The devil stands in front of what looks like a tomb. Bones are scattered all around (Ezekiel 6:5; Psalms 141:7). A wind sweeps past him with hurricane force.
The vile one looks up to Calvary. He has just discovered that he was lured him into a trap by the Crucified One who undid all the wicked angel’s nefarious scheming to take over the world. The evil one shrieks with perfect angelic hatred and murderous rage – at his total defeat.
The joyous gloating of the so-called “victors” who killed the Righteous One was transformed into the banshee shrieks of hell a few minutes later.
All that is left for the devil is the “wailing and gnashing of teeth” (Luke 13:28).
Our Own Emmaus Moment
Now is the time for hope, not despair.
We can’t avoid the human emotions of outrage and disappointment at Trump’s loss and the total political and human tragedy that this election has been. But nor are we sheep who take such injustices sitting down.
Everything that could be done was done to apply the rule of law. Everything that responsible people are to do in a participatory democracy to bring about a righteous outcome has been tried.
In my opinion the election was indeed stolen. For many, however, it is a total loss. In fact, it is the loss of America as a constitutional republic. The whole experience is understandably full of sadness and outrage.
But there is also hope – in a spiritual sense. That is where we must focus. Hope looks beyond the tragedy. Hope walks the path of the Resurrection.
Hearts Burning
Where do we go from here?
Above all, we should continue to pray for President Trump and his family. They are perhaps in the most precarious position they have ever been in. They need our prayers to get them through their own Emmaus moment.
And then, like the disciples, we return to the community of faith. We reunite with people who share our values and who believe in the Resurrection!
On the strength of our shared faith, we must each make it our intention to bring light into our severely darkened society. Our hearts are still on fire with Christ because we know the ultimate outcome of the battle, despite the disappointment.
Hope is not a consolation prize. It is a theological virtue! According to St. Paul, it is one of the things that lasts into heaven (1 Corinthians 13:14) when all other things pass away.
The darkness cannot overcome the light. The cold wet blanket of leftist manipulations and persecution thrown over our society cannot overcome the zeal of hearts burning with Christ.
Everyone must spread the burning light in his heart in their own way. Some will continue to be politically active. Others will educate.
Still others – and this is perhaps the most valuable and effective act of all – will keep their families close and firmly rooted in the Christian faith. They will assure the victory of the Resurrection in their own family culture, over against the evils of the perverse culture all around us.
Everyone must do something to spread the light in the face of what seems like a demonic victory.
Remember the devil’s shrieking. He didn’t have the last word. When the darkness deepens, even a small candle sheds great light.
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