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As I write, I am well aware that we are at the end of a wearying and difficult election season in which many of us have become deeply invested. For me, that investment has included voting early, trying to share articles that I think might be helpful to others, and doing a whole slew of Zoom workshops and retreats on Aquinas and the virtue of truth. Yes, I know that last one might be an odd way of expressing one’s commitment to good citizenship and I’m not sure how great the impact has been in the present moment. But in working with teachers and preachers around this topic now, hopefully it will have impact unto the future. It took a while for us to get into this situation as a nation and I suspect it is going to take a while to get out of it. I know that education around truth and healthy conversation is something that will be important for the long haul.
But that doesn’t mean that trying to be party to the conversation during this election season hasn’t been exhausting and it doesn’t mean that I don’t need a break from the noise. I imagine that is true for you also. Which is why I was particularly moved to find that the first reading of the day in the Dominican lectionary for November 3rd is Philippians 4: 4-9. It’s the perfect passage for a people who are a little frazzled by the state of the world. In it, Paul reminds the Philippians to allow the peace of God to guard their minds and hearts. I have the picture of God with one hand on the crown of my head and one over my chest protecting them from taking in more than they can handle and stilling the racing thoughts… the frantic beating.
Here is an advance peak at my preaching for November 3rd. May the peace of God also guard you during this coming week.