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All Our Hope: A Message from Bishop Lee

In an article in The Living Church posted this morning, a priest in the Diocese of Kentucky wrote profoundly about the Christian response to the election and everything it represents. He quoted the motto of the monastic order of Carthusians: Stat crux dum volvitur orbit, “the cross is steady while the world is turning.” I, too, want to remind us all today that our ultimate allegiance, our trust, our hope is not in a president, not in a particular political outcome, not even in the nation. To paraphrase a favorite hymn of mine, “All our hope on God is founded.” All our trust, all our hope, first, last and eternal is found in Christ himself.

Personally, I am appalled that this presidential election is even within range of being a close one. What do I do with that? Well, I am trying to practice putting my feelings and convictions about this into the service of my prayer. This is a bracing reminder that at the center of the universe, the heart of reality there stands a cross, not a flag, not a president, not any system of government. In its promise of a new heaven and new earth, the Book of Revelation tells us that at the center of it all is the Lamb slain from all eternity. In other words, the cross of Christ is the ground of reality and the foundation of any real and ultimate healing.

We are signed with that cross in baptism, and the cross makes clear how we are to live, and how we are to make our baptismal identity real. In the face of any election outcome, we are called to walk with our eyes wide open to any injustice, any lies and any self-serving manipulations. Regardless of the outcome, we are called to minister with open hearts to the suffering of this world. And as we do so, we are called to remember that the outcome of this election will affect some members of Christ’s Body more directly and immediately than it affects others, possibly determining whether they, or loved ones, are deported; whether they, or loved ones, keep or lose their health insurance; determining whether they, or loved ones, can marry the person whom they love.

In baptism, says Paul in his Letter to the Romans, we are buried with Christ in his death that we might walk with him in an utterly new way of life. For us, that way of life is captured in our Baptismal promises. In the days and weeks and years ahead, they will be more important than ever. We promise to open wide our arms to the world as it is, not as we would like it to be, but as it is. We promise to love even those who dismiss us or ridicule us, even those with whom we disagree passionately, even those who wish us harm. We promise to recognize and reverence the presence of God in them.

Whatever the results of the presidential election turn out to be, the vocation of the church will remain the same. The cross goes before us. We will be called to do what the wisdom of the cross has always shown us to do. We will love. Sacrificially, practically, heroically if need be. We’ll feed the hungry and comfort the afflicted and take our share in doing whatever it takes to honor the full dignity of every human being. We’ll take to the streets if need be—especially if the well-being of our most vulnerable siblings requires it—but always relying on the power of the One who died for us and was raised and lives with the Father and the Holy Spirit, in us and for us. This world is God’s. And so are we all.