A Monthly Publication of St. Thomas Church of Eustis, Florida Church Phone (352) 357-4358 / FAX Number (352) 357-9963 Newsletter Editor: Lisa Labud email stthomasec@earthlink.net Website address: www.stthomaseustis.com

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St. Thomas Tidings -- November, 2008

Words from Fr. John

WHERE IS OUR HOPE?

“I lift up my eyes to the hills – from where will my help come?
My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.”
Psalm 121

By the time many of you read this, our nation will have elected a new President, and we can all give thanks that the political deluge that covers our land every four years has subsided – is it safe now to come out of the ark, open our newspapers, and turn on our televisions? The campaigning is over, but the politics goes on and on. We might complain about the hype and hypocrisy of it all (I certainly do!), but it is a relatively peaceful electoral process for new leadership, and I wouldn’t trade our system for that of any other in the world.

In my opinion, this year’s election for President presents us with the most radically different choice in candidates since 1980. While you and I may have very strong and perhaps contrary ideas about what is needed for our local, state, and national leadership, I confess that the thought of the election of the candidate(s) I don’t vote for does not worry me nearly as much as the idea that our “hope” is in a particular candidate we can “believe in.” Indeed I have heard thoughts and feelings expressed about certain politicians that sound almost messianic in their faith-filled expectations.

I know these are difficult times for many, but may we never come to the point in our nation’s history when our anger or fears compel us to place our faith and hope in any person – especially a politician.

Let us lift up our eyes, and behold where our faith and hope must truly be: in God, the holy and undivided Trinity, who is faithful to deliver us from evil, save us from our sins, and who never lets anything separate us from the divine love that made the heavens and the earth. Regardless of the election’s outcome, we may need to remember that more than ever in the next four years. 
 

Faithfully yours,
Fr. John