This Advent

A friend and fellow mother of many and writer, posted about praying this Advent, for our commander in chief.   Like all things associated with this president, it immediately drew the irritation and ire of the internet.  She was accused of virtue signaling.  Additionally, people raged that no one should be praying for someone who creates bad outcomes for others.  The implication from some of the criticism was that those who supported her position  were standing with those most affected by existing current policies.

People were angry at even the notion of prayer for a person who is causing so much grief.    That reaction to even the notion of willing the good of someone by prayer, is why we must both act in this life, and seek intercession from above as part of that action.   Advent is a time of blessed waiting, a mini Lent when we can fast and give alms, and pray to Heaven for more of Heaven to be revealed on Earth.

Prayer is not an alterantive to action. It is action.   So also, engaging in opposition with our time, our words, and our deeds, is not teflon against the corruption of the soul that comes from being angry, wrathful even.

The reality is, we can and must do both and.

We can stand against policies and procedures, statements and insults, and still pray for the person encouraging and promoting all these things.  Jesus expressly tells us to “pray for our enemies.”   It’s not easy. In fact, it’s the hardest thing we can do, because our own emotions and will chaffe at begging for grace for someone who we feel deserves something far worse.

To plunge into the heart of God, we must trust and belive that no one is beyond God’s love, God’s grace, God’s reach.

They must seek it, they must desire it, they must in their souls move to respond to God’s love.   Our prayers may not move them.  All prayers however, will change us, keep us from being as warped, as injured spiritually, by anger.   Praying for our enemies doesn’t necessarily change them, but it does help us not to fall into sin as a result of having an enemy.

We must want all souls to seek God, there isn’t one we’re entitled to hate.   Pope John Paul the Great forgave the man who shot him.   Saint Maria Goretti forgave the man who tried to rape her, and who stabbed her.  Christ forgave those who shouted, “Crucify Him,” those who orchestrated the crowd, those who ran, those who denied, all from the cross.  “Father, forgive them.  They know not what they do.”

The soul we save may be our own.

If we would love Christ, we must love like Christ.   It’s not a cop out. It’s not a refusal to see wrong and wrong doing, and it’s not a you don’t still have to act in the world to oppose evil.    Praying for your enemies is not calling them good.  It is calling them to the Good.

Praying for your enemies is not virtue signaling.   Done in truth, it is an emotional wrestling match where you sublimate your own preference to imitate James and John, sons of Zebedee, to call down lightning, in favor of willing the greatest good possible.

So this Advent, pray or fast or both for those that drive you crazy, for those who make you upset, for those who by their words, deeds and past and present, lead you to temptation, and destroy peace, both physical and spiritual.  It will do you good, and who knows how, but God hears all the cries of our hearts, so it might be necessary for their and our salvation.