Polarized Politicians Need Prayer

Today’s Epistle reading comes from the first letter to Timothy from Paul. Paul writes:

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings should be made for everyone, for kings and all who are in high positions, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity. This is right and is acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God; there is also one mediator between God and humankind, Christ Jesus, himself human, who gave himself a ransom for all—this was attested at the right time. (1 Tim. 2: 1-6).

Today’s political climate is polarized.  Our leaders talk past each other; they do not listen to each other.  Part of this is due to the fact that our leaders do not spend time together; rather, they are always going back to the constituents.  In years past, our national leaders spent much more time together. Their families intermingled.  Their kids went to school with each other and played sports together. They would sit down and have a drink together.  Some even went to church together.  They didn’t have to agree with each other on everything.  But they had a community, and that community enabled them to lead more effectively because they were not isolated from each other.  In today’s political world, community is missing. 

Paul asks us to pray for those in authority, and we should.  We should pray for our leadership to have true discerning hearts, to listen to others, and not to be thinking about their rejoinder as the other is speaking.  After all, Paul reminds us that god desires everyone to be saved: Democrats, Republicans, Tea Partiers, Libertarians, and every other flavor you can think of.

Let us pray: O Lord our Governor, whose glory is in all the world: We commend this nation to thy merciful care, that, being guided by thy Providence, we may dwell secure in thy peace. Grant to the President, the Congress, the Courts, the Governor of this State, the Legislature, and to all in authority, wisdom and strength to know and to do thy will. Fill them with the love of truth and righteousness, and make them ever mindful of their calling to serve this people in thy fear; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.

CALENDAR REMINDERS

HONORING OUR GRADUATES: this Sunday, 20 May 2012.

PENTECOST IS Sunday, 27 May—please wear red!

PLEASE REMEMBER EVERYONE ON OUR PRAYER LIST, especially Patricia, Lee’s mother, all those seeking work, and those who have no one to pray for them.

Your servant in Christ,

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550