Homily Rev. James L. Nadeau 10/18/2020 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time
How important is 1 VOTE? Examples from US history:
1776 – The official language of our country was decided by 1 VOTE. English or German
1845 – 1 VOTE would have ceded Texas to Mexico.
1868 – Andrew Johnson was impeached by 1 VOTE.
1876 – Rutherford Hayes was elected president by 1 Electoral VOTE.
There is no need to go on; the point is clear: 1 person’s exercise of the right to VOTE can make a tremendous difference.
What is true of the U.S. is also true of the world.
1 VOTE gave Oliver Cromwell control of England in 1965.
1 VOTE caused King Charles I of England to be executed in 1649.
In 1875, 1 VOTE changed France from a Monarchy to a Republic.
In 1923, Adolf Hitler became leader of the Nazi party by 1 VOTE.
1 VOTE can literally change the world.
Today’s Gospel contains a crucial message for every Christian: Jesus makes it clear that we possess duel citizenship. We are citizens of two worlds – Earth and Heaven. These obligations are like two sides of the same coin. A failure in our duty as citizens, literally, is a failure in our duty as Christians.
We are called to make the world better. Jesus is telling us there is no sphere of our lives in which God is not interested or where His law ought not to hold sway. Just as there is no part of our world untouched by the mystery of Christ’s death and resurrection, there can be no part of our lives cut off from the challenge or demands of the Gospel. We must not compromise our primary obligation to God.