Lord, This Troubles Me

Our federal government remains in partial shutdown since October 1^st because of the inability of our elected representatives to agree on a budget.  At times I want to write to Congress and the President to express my dissatisfaction with them.  Members of each political party blame the other party when it seems clear to me that both parties have a share in the blame for their inability to agree on a new budget.  Political polarization and self-righteousness prevent them from even agreeing on a temporary spending measure.   

When I think about writing them, I find I do not know what to say to help them understand the problem. 

This past Saturday I was sitting in the confessional alone.  I started to pray for a topic to write about in this blog article.  The government shutdown came to mind but it seemed a difficult task to write on the shutdown in a non-political way. 

As I prayed about it, the solution I was given was to go over the heads of Congress and the President and write a letter to God express my concerns with our government and leave it in God’s hands.  What follows is what I wrote as a letter to God. 

Dear God, 
I know you are all-knowing.  That means you know what is going on in our federal government in the United States.    I find myself very frustrated by the inability of Congress and the President to come to an agreement on a new budget.  I am afraid that they are more concerned about getting their own way than doing your Will.  Do you share my frustration? 

I know this is not the first time political authorities have not led your people as you desire.  I think of what we can read in the Old Testament in the books of Jeremiah and Ezekiel concerning the shepherds you appointed who do not shepherd according to Your Will.  Today we tend to think of shepherds only as religious leaders but all authority comes from you.  In the days of Jeremiah and Ezekiel, the government leaders were also seen as your appointees.  I pray for our government leaders today to realize that you are the one who determines what is right and wrong, not members of a political party.  I pray that they open themselves to allowing the Holy Spirit to guide their work and help them to open themselves to dialogue with one another, and lead in accord with your justice. 

As I see it, they are not interested in dialogue to determine the best course of action.  Even if they do not believe in you, a huge mistake, they should still realize that dialogue is necessary to achieve what is good.  I do not hear arguments for what they want to do.  It seems they simply think they are right and cannot comprehend why anyone would think differently.     

In my frustration, it would be easy to seek their destruction like you did with Sodom and Gomorrah.  I don’t want that.  I think of Jesus’ words, “love your enemies.”  I do not want to judge them, lest I be judged by the same standard (see Matthew 7:1-5). 

I think of Paul’s words to Timothy, “First of all, then, I ask that supplications, prayers, petitions, and thanksgivings be offered for everyone, for kings and for all in authority, that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life in all devotion and dignity.  This is good and pleasing to God our savior, who wills everyone to be saved and to come to knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:1-4). 

I pray for mercy.  I pray for hope for a new openness on their part.  I pray for their conversion for I fear the day has come that fulfills Paul’s words to Timothy, “For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine but, following their own desires and insatiable curiosity, will accumulate teachers and will stop listening to the truth and will be diverted to myths” (2 Timothy 4:3-4).  I pray they open themselves to the truth, the truth that will set us free (see John 8:32).   

The feelings this causes me leaves me wondering what to do.  I pray for the Holy Spirit to give me the knowledge, wisdom, and understanding to know what to say and the courage to say what you want said (see Mark 13:11).  I pray that I remember the words that Paul said to Timothy, “But you, be self-possessed in all circumstances; put up with hardship; perform the work of an evangelist; fulfill your ministry” (2 Timothy 4:5) and that I fulfill the ministry you ask of me.  I do not want to do my own will.  As I pray in the Lord’s Prayer, “thy will be done,” my hope is that I do your will. 

I sometimes wonder if some of the people in government think they are the savior of the world.  They are not.  Jesus is.  I struggle myself to not try and do it all myself sometimes.  Just as they are not the savior of the world, neither am I.  I pray that You give them the grace, I pray that You give me the grace to trust in your plan, the plan you speak of in Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know well the plans I have in mind for you—oracle of the Lord—plans for your welfare and not for woe, so as to give you a future of hope.” 

Lord, I hope I don’t seem like a complainer, but it is not just the shutdown that bothers me.  It’s the way immigrants are being treated, especially in ICE raids (see my previous article “Treating Them with Dignity”).  I pray that everyone is treated with the dignity you give every person when You create them in your image (see Genesis 1:27). 

I think of the air-traffic controllers, military, and any other federal government workers who keep working during the shutdown.  I fear they are seen as nothing more than machines by our government, forced to work without being paid during the shutdown.  I thank them for their work and I pray they be paid immediately in accord with your justice.   

I think of those who receive assistance like SNAP as they face the loss of their benefits as the shutdown continues.  I give thanks that yesterday it was announced that in November, the federal government will at least use the money that is in emergency reserves to at least pay partial benefits.  At least it is something.  I pray the government realizes that we are talking about basic needs like food here and does what is necessary and just to make sure those in need have what they need in accord with your Will. 

I pray for an end to the political self-righteousness and polarization that is plaguing our nation.  The path forward is clear.  We all need to give our hearts over to you, not partially but entirely as we read in Deuteronomy 6:5, “Therefore, you shall love the Lord, your God, with your whole heart, and with your whole being, and with your whole strength.” 

I pray that instead of blaming one another for things like the shooting of Charlie Kirk and the politically motivated shootings in Minnesota of state government representatives, they realize they all have a share in the blame in the way they participate in the negative political rhetoric plaguing our nation. 

I pray they come to respect one another as created in your image (see Genesis 1:27). 

Whatever side of the political aisle they are on, they seem to think that all that is needed to fix everything is for them to get their way.  I pray they allow themselves to see things as You see them. 

I know you want to fix things but we stand in your way when we choose to use the free will you give us to do things our own way.  I pray that I use my own free will to do what is Your Will for Your Will is far better than mine.  I pray that everyone else makes the same choice, given their free will over to you. 

Well Lord, I think that is it for now.  I pray for the world.  Oh, one last request, please tell me what You want me to do. 

Peace, 

Fr. Jeff