DENVER CATHOLIC REGISTER - Letter to the Editor
September 14, 2008

HOMILY
Region 13 Deacon Meeting in Pueblo, Colorado
July 10, 2008 Cycle A

WE ARE CALLED TO DO SOMETHING
Deacon Bill Jordon
St. Augustine, Brighton CO

WHY IT IS IMPORTANT FOR YOUNG CATHOLICS TO VOTE
By: David Kneusel

HOMILY
Region 13 Deacon Meeting in Pueblo, Colorado
July 10, 2008 Cycle A
Hosea 11:1-4,8-9 Matthew 10:7-15
(go to top)

The famed anthropologist, Margaret Mead, once was asked what marked the first sign of civilization in a given culture. The questioner expected the answer to be some tool, or craft, or art form. But Dr. Mead’s answer surprised everyone.

The renowned anthropologist responded by saying, “The first sign of civilization is “a healed femur.”” She went on to explain that no healed bones were found where the law of “survival of the fittest reigns.” Why? A healed bone shows that someone had to do the injured persons hunting and gathering until the injury could mend. Someone has to care enough to provide for the wounded and hurt so the individual could heal.

Dr. Mead concluded with the word “compassion” as the first sign of civilization.

You have gathered these last couple of days to revisit the Catholic Social Teachings and revisited the Seven Key Themes that the Bishops have outlined for Faithful Citizenship. Certainly each of those themes can be encompassed in that one word that Dr. Mead reminded the listener of – “compassion” – compassion for God’s people. Caring for others. Putting ourselves second for the sake of another. Seeking what is good and right for someone else regardless of the cost for ourselves. We believe that that is not only the first mark of civilization, but it is the heart of faith.

Both the work of building America and the establishing of God’s Kingdom continues, especially in this election year. As you have gathered these days from the six states in our region, we are all asked to recommit ourselves to the work of building the pyramid that is America. Namely, life, liberty, and justice for all.
And as we were baptized in the life of Jesus, we all continue the work of the Gospel, to be messengers and prophets, ministers and agents, of God’s reign of peace, compassion, and reconciliation to others.

We gather today as members who have been called to ministry, both you, as ordained deacons, and your spouses, who have been your first cheerleaders and supporters in your ministerial obligations. Both of you have been called through ordination to serve. We all recognize that we have our likes and dislikes, our passions and our prejudices. From the position at the ambo and the greeting of peace, we know we are not prefabricated. Surely, look at the diversity among you these last days. You represent all types of personalities, extraverts and introverts, thinkers and doers, spontaneous and deliberate. We all share the faults of sinful humans and we can be as small as the next person. We get discouraged when we do not live up to our ideas and the expectations of God’s people. We get frustrated when our plans for our parishes do not materialize. We are saddened when our homilies leave the people cold. And we light up like a Christmas tree when we delight the community.

Despite the downside, surmounting all the discouragements, we are people who have gathered in love. For we love our Church. Obviously not the building, of course, but God’s people. The men, the women, the children, God has entrusted to our care. It is both the devout and the lukewarm. Those who love us and those who couldn’t care less. The haves and the have-nots. The strict and the not so strict. The young, the middle-aged, and the elderly.

We continue to find our joy in celebrating and sharing with God’s people the Word of Life and the Bread of Life; in pouring saving waters on the heads of the little one’s, and giving witness to the love shared in marriage, in praying with the faith community.
Sometimes, as the Prophet Hosea recalls in our first reading, “We find ourselves preaching a message to a people who refuse to listen.” But, as the scriptures remind us, God realizes that He must not give up, for these people He has chosen as His own. Why? Because God loves all with an unconditional love, because He knows the perfect creation we are from the moment of our conception.

Today, as we leave this assembly, we refer to the opening verses of our Gospel that are certainly words that recall us to our baptismal promises. “Make this proclamation: The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.”

This morning you and I have been sent forth once again to move mountains. I mean, to move minds, to change hearts, to fashion communities of peace, of justice, of love. But we do not do it by our own native powers. No, but by the power of the Holy Spirit lodged within each of you. Your efforts, your blood and sweat and tears, are important because Christ has chosen to act through you. But the grace, the conversion, the change in mind and heart, all that comes from above, from a Christ who has promised to remain with us. Not only under the appearance of Bread and Wine, but in His very own “Spirit of Truth whom the world can not accept.” Don’t underestimate the Power of the Spirit, and don’t underestimate the Power of the Cross. It is the Cross that redeems the world as the scriptures remind us: “By Your Holy Cross You have redeemed the world.” We ask ourselves again, do we really believe that? Then, we don’t only preach it, but we live it.

So, you good brothers called to the deaconate in Christ, and with your spouses and families ever at your side, lifting you up in prayer and support, you go forth with confidence, trusting not in yourselves, but in the Power of the Spirit and in the Power of the Cross – the Cross of Compassion!

Amen! Amen.

Msgr. Tom Adrians
Pastor, Christ the King, Pueblo

WE ARE CALLED TO DO SOMETHING
Deacon Bill Jordon
St. Augustine, Brighton CO
(go to top)

A quote that we have heard is, “All that is required for Evil to win is for good people to do nothing.” I may not be exact in the wording of that quote, but the meaning is exact. If we Christians and especially Catholic Christians just go along with the flow of the Culture that we live in, if we do not speak out against what is wrong in the world we live in then we become supporters of the evil of our world.

That is quite an indictment, but it is true none the less. If we do not vote, our silence speaks out against us. But how do we vote when we do not agree with everything a candidate says? Well, I don’t think I have ever met anyone with whom I agreed with all of the time, much less a political candidate. Does this mean I vote for the lesser of two evils? Sadly, there are times when we are called to vote against a great evil. Perhaps we are called to vote against the greater of two evils.

How do we decide how to vote on a candidate or an issue? A good Catholic citizen must be an informed citizen. We must educate ourselves on what the issues mean for all people. We must invite others that we are in close contact with to educate themselves. We do not have the right to tell others how to vote, but we must encourage them to vote after they have made the effort to know what they are voting about. We must vote for candidates that are willing to support the issues we are strongly in favor of and are willing to listen to us when we have objections to issues and bills that come up in the State Legislature, the National Congress and the local government. Then we must make ourselves heard by letter, e-mail, phone calls, and in-person visits if we are able. We need to be vocal about our support or nonsupport of issues and our pleasure or displeasure with the job they are doing. They are elected to represent us too.

How do we educate ourselves about what or whom to vote for or against? There are general information publications that have the reputation of being both honest and complete, for example the publications by The League of Women Voters. There are publications and websites that will tell you what and why the Church and the bishops support in terms of issues and particular pieces of legislation. The Colorado Catholic Conference (CCC) and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) are two great resources. You can also consult the national or local media (TV, radio, websites, newspapers or magazines) but don’t count on them to be neutral or to give all sides of an issue. You can listen to what the candidates say or to their ads, but always check for the truth behind the propaganda. You can listen to what interest groups say about an issue or a candidate, but remember the reason they are called interest groups is that they have an interest in the result of the election.

I should have said that being a good citizen and a good voter is not easy. It is not easy, but nothing worthwhile ever is. But being a good citizen and a good voter is worthwhile. We few, we Catholic few, can make a positive difference. We need to vote and to do our homework before we vote. We need to remember who we are and what we are. We need to vote and to make our voice heard.

WHY IT IS IMPORTANT FOR YOUNG CATHOLICS TO VOTE
By: David Kneusel
(go to top)

It is important for young Catholics and young people in general, to vote for several reasons. First, voting is your chance to make your voice heard in the government. Secondly, young people voting ensure that the country is expressing a diverse set of opinions, not just those of middle aged people. Thirdly, voting is also an obligation for Catholics.

Voting is, for many, the only chance we have to make our voice heard in the government. In the United States we have the opportunity to shift major policy decisions by voting for people who will do what we want. This is why the people are the actual rulers of the United States; we decide who is elected to Congress and who gets to be President. The people are not even forced to choose one of the available candidates, you can even write someone in if you like. This country gives more power to its people than any other country in the world, so let’s take advantage of it!

Another reason for young people in general to vote is because, if we don’t, only those who are middle aged or seniors will vote. This means that people from outside our generation will be running this country, and they’re generally not focused on the issues that matter to us. We can't always rely on the older generations to control the future of the United States. We are the future. As young people, we have the right and the duty to take hold of our country and steer it in the way that we, as its future leaders, want it to go. This means that we also carry the responsibility to steer it in the direction of morality, justice and the common good. This is the direction we, as faithful citizens, should want our country to go.

It’s obligatory for us, as Catholics, to carry out this mission of directing the future of our country in a path that is good and moral. We as Catholics believe in a separation of church and state, not a separation of faith and politics. Faith shapes our politics and in that way helps ensure that this country will be led down the paths that will make this country greater.

To conclude, young people should vote for many reasons. First it is the best way to make our voices heard in the government. Secondly, we have a duty to take an active role in the future of our country, and a responsibility to move it in the direction of morality. Lastly, it is an obligation for Catholics to add their faith-based politics to the government of our country. I encourage all Catholics and young people to make their voices heard this election year.