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 troubling, 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 and press on, that “he shall see the light in fullness of days” [Isa 53:11a].
Much of what is before us involves very fundamental matters:
life, family, gender, safety.
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 ballot 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’ve heard the teachings of the Church on many of these fundamental matters. The conflict can seem to be overwhelming, at times.
The Book of Isaiah tells us that, on several occasions when Isaiah felt overwhelmed by the conflict around him, he went back to basics and sought the wisdom and mercy of God [cf. Isa 40:13]. And we too need to do the same. In our going back to basics, we may find the wisdom and mercy of God sought in what may be, for some, a most unexpected place: the US Constitution.
The preamble to the US Constitution made clear
what they meant by “the common good.”
The Preamble to our Constitution states that the founding fathers wanted to form a union, of a very diverse people, that they might come together for the common good. And the preamble to the US Constitution 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.
In America, the interpretation of “the common good” relies on
precepts that transcend ourselves.
Notice that the document that set forth the very purpose of the union of the United States of America acknowledged that “the common good” involves the wisdom and mercy of a creator being, God. For if there’s no God involved, then there are no as blessings, for blessings come from God. So, in America, the interpretation of “the common good” relies on God-given 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 “common good” around which we come together as Americans is to stand on a foundation of God-given moral principles, not principles solely formulated by man.
America’s founding document 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 personalities, not by force of arms, not even by majority rule, but by precepts that transcend ourselves. That is, the “common good” around which we come together as Americans is to stand on a foundation of God-given moral principles, not principles solely formulated by man.
Does this proposition or candidate advocate for the common good
guided by God-given moral principles?
So, here we are more than 200 years later wondering "what are we to do” in this election season surrounded by so much conflict. We too are to return to basics. We are to 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. And, over the history of our nation, thousands have given their all that we may stand in that voting booth and make such choices about “the common good.”
“Choose the lesser of two evils.”
Now, many may say: “But some of what is presented by this proposition or candidate is morally sound, and some isn’t. I’m not being presented with a black or white choice here.” Our good Pope Francis advised that in those cases, we are to “choose the lesser of two evils.” [Pope Francis News Conference, Sept. 13, 2024]
Do we not owe it to ourselves and our posterity to select those leaders and ballot propositions that promote the morally-sound common good upon which our country was founded as “one nation under God” [US Pledge of Allegiance]?
‘Till next time,
Dcn. Bob Evans
10/21/24
Scripture References
Isiah 40:13, 53:11a
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