As we gather here this weekend, our country is on the brink of a very important day: the presidential election. Many of you may be planning to vote for Ms. Kamala Harris, Mr. Donald Trump, and their running mates. As your priest, my role isn’t to tell you whom to vote for—that’s not the Church’s place. My role is to guide you to Jesus, to the values of the Gospel, the teachings of the Magisterium of the Church, and to remind you that our faith must always inform our choices.
This time of elections can stir up strong feelings—hope, concern, even division. But we are all called, as Pope Francis says, “to be instruments of peace.” We must enter this election with respect for each other and come out of it the same way. This means respecting not just those who agree with us but also those who might vote differently.
In his wisdom, Pope Francis reminds us that true faith “is inseparable from self-giving, from membership in the community, from service.” Our country needs healing and unity, and this can only come when we look beyond politics to the dignity and humanity of each person. This is the heart of the common good.
You know, nationalism—a love of our country—is a beautiful thing, but like all loves, it must be tempered by faith and respect. When patriotism becomes fanaticism, it blinds us to the needs of others and leads to division. True love for our country means contributing to its well-being through peace, justice, and mercy, not through division. As Christians, we are called to build a nation that reflects the Kingdom of God—a kingdom rooted in love, compassion, and respect.
Our Catholic faith teaches us that each of us has a conscience, a place within us where God speaks to guide us in truth. As you go to the polls, listen to this voice of God in your heart. Pope Francis encourages us to “form consciences, not to replace them.” This means that each of us must make choices with a heart that listens to Christ’s teachings, honoring life in every form, from the unborn to the elderly, and promoting a society that serves everyone. This is so important.
As we make this journey, let us look to the Blessed Virgin Mary, our Mother. She gave her “yes” to God with humility and courage, always helping others and guiding them to her Son. Like Our Lady, let us be people of “yes”—yes to love, yes to peace, yes to compassion. She can lead us to Christ, where we find the strength to put the good of others before ourselves.
Finally, we must be prepared to accept the outcome of this election with grace, knowing that our ultimate hope is in God, not in any political leader. Whoever is elected, our duty as Catholics does not change. We are still called to work for justice, to care for the poor, to defend life from conception until natural deatch, and to respect each other. We are called to be builders of peace, instruments of peace. So let us pray for our country, for our leaders, and for each other. May God bless us with wisdom, and may our Lady, the Blessed Virgin Mary, guide us always toward her Son, who is our peace • AE
St. Joseph Catholic Church (Dilley, TX) • Weekend Schedule
Fr. Agustin E. (Parish Administrator)
Friday November 1: Solemnity of All Saints
5.00 p.m. Sacrament of Confession
6.00 p.m. Holy Mass
7.00 p.m. Eucharistic Adoration
Saturday November 2: The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed
12.00 p.m. Holy Mass.
5.00 p.m. Sacramento de la Confesión
6.00 p.m. Santa Misa.
Sunday, November 3
8.00 a.m. Sacrament of Reconciliation
8.30 a.m. Holy Mass.
10.30 p.m. Sacrament of Reconciliation.
11.00 a.m. Holy Mass.
XXXI DOMINGO DEL TIEMPO ORDINARIO (CICLO B)
A Jesús le hacían preguntas. Siempre he creído que le hacían muchas, y es que la gente lo veía como un maestro; de hecho le llaman así: maestro. Pero la pregunta que esta vez le hace aquel hombre no es una pregunta más. Lo que le plantea, preocupaba a muchos: ¿qué mandamiento es el primero de todos?, ¿qué es lo primero que hay que hacer en la vida para acertar? Y Jesús le responde con unas palabras que, tanto aquel como él mismo, han pronunciado esa misma mañana al recitar la oración Shemá: «Dios es el único Señor: amarás al Señor tu Dios con todo tu corazón, con toda tu alma, con toda tu mente, con todo tu ser». A Jesús le ayudaban a vivir a lo largo del día amando a Dios con todo su corazón y todas sus fuerzas. Esto es lo primero y decisivo. Y a continuación, Jesús añade algo que nadie le ha preguntado: «El segundo mandamiento es semejante: Amarás a tu prójimo como a ti mismo». Ésta es la síntesis de la vida. De estos dos mandatos depende todo: la religión, la moral, el acierto en la existencia.
El amor no está en el mismo plano que otros deberes. No es una norma de siempre, como dicen algunos, o una norma más, perdida entre otras normas más o menos importantes. Amar, podemos decir, es la única forma sana de vivir ante Dios y ante las personas. Si en la política o en la religión, en la vida social o en el comportamiento individual, hay algo que no se deduce del amor o va contra él, no sirve para construir una vida humana. Sin amor no hay progreso. Se puede vaciar de Dios la política y decir que basta pensar en el prójimo. Se puede vaciar del prójimo la religión y decir que lo decisivo es servir a Dios. Para Jesús Dios y prójimo son inseparables. No es posible amar a Dios y desentenderse del hermano, y de esto el santo padre Francisco nos ha hablado muchísimo, ¿le ponemos atención?
Corremos el riesgo de que nuestra fe se vaya deformando si nuestro egoísmo va creciendo, justo por eso es tan necesario recordar este mensaje del Señor. Dicho de otra forma: No podemos encontrarnos con Dios y al mismo tiempo vivir ignorando a los demás. No es posible adorar a Dios en el fondo del alma y vivir de espaldas a los que sufren. El amor a Dios, Padre de todos, que excluye al prójimo se reduce a mentira. Lo que va contra el amor, va contra Dios • AE
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En español:
LA MEDITACION DE LA ESPOSA 