Are we Sacrificing our Citizenship in Heaven for American Patriotism

We all like to proclaim that America was founded on Christian principles. Then we turn our back on brothers and sisters in need as soon as things get a little tough. I guess talk and posts are cheap and easy, but the real work of Christianity is hard and comes with a cost. Interestingly, the one person that we all deem as being a “non-Christian” seems to exhibit the most Christian stance of charity, compassion and mercy right now.

We need to remember that our loyalty and citizenship is first and foremost in Heaven . We need to be mindful and not sacrifice that citizenship for American patriotism. God did not promise us a country, he promised us a kingdom, a heavenly one. That kingdom will be more glorious and amazing than anything here on this Earth. Stop loving the things of this world so much! Look toward Heaven.

Colossians 3:2 “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”

Ephesians 2:19; “Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God's people and also members of his household”

Remember that Jesus gave his life to bring us Truth. He expects the same from us. Jesus was not a coward, he came to save us, all of us – the whole world. We belong to the Universal Church – we are the Body of Christ. That is not exclusively American. If we turn our backs on our brothers and sisters anywhere, we turn our backs on Jesus – “whatsoever you do to the least of my people, that you do unto me”

Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life, and the Light – not the American Dream. Change your focus before it’s too late. We are Catholic first, and then American. That does not make us bad citizens, it makes us extraordinary ones. We stand for Truth!

Don’t let Satan use fear to divide us. Deuteronomy 31:6 “Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”

Jesus is always near, and ready to lead us to Truth. Matthew 28: 19 and 20; “teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

We can’t let arrogance, pride, selfishness, and a lack of humility separate us from his Grace.”

We need to stop worrying about being politically correct and stand up for what is right, and fair, but not just for whom we deem is worthy, because we are ALL worthy. We were all made in the image of God, by God. We might not love someone, but God does. He did command us to love everyone, even our enemies. God loves and made those enemies, they may have lost their way, but God still loves them, as he loves us.

How difficult is it to love our family, and friends, people just like us. Charity may start at home, but the term “start’ would indicate that it needs to go somewhere from there. I am so incredibly tired of hearing people preach that we must put Christ back in Christmas; these people put up signs urging us all to do this, and then at the bottom note something to the effect that if these beliefs offend, then leave. I just don’t understand where there is charity in this kind of sentiment. Why wouldn’t we welcome the non-believers and the people different from us? Have we not been commissioned to evangelize, who exactly are we to evangelize to? Other believers? That doesn’t make any sense, the people we want to reach are the people that hate us and want to hurt us. Why wouldn’t we welcome them, and show them why we are Christian, and why they should be too? It may be a pipedream, it is probably a pipedream, but worthy of the effort. All things are possible with God. Christianity is spread by the blood of Martyrs. The Church flourishes and grows amid suffering and persecution.

I just don’t think that most of us have the humility to be good Christians, so we just talk about it and boast about it, and really neglect the true spirit of Christ. Living the true spirit of Christ is messy, it is difficult, unpleasant even. It is going to expose us to hatred, persecution, scorn, physical threat, harm, and maybe even death. The King of the Universe, the maker of everything, didn’t shy away from any of this, so why should we? We are so undeserving of his mercy, yet he gives it to us every day; and then we are unable to show even a tiny miniscule of that same mercy to our brothers and sisters in need. We have brothers and sisters fleeing horrors that we can only imagine. It is only by the Grace of God, and maybe some luck, that we are not in their shoes. They did not choose to live where they do, and to suffer the way they suffer. Yet, we deny them help, and then look to God in prayer for all of the intentions that we desire. We really are hypocrites.

As we celebrated the Feast of Christ the King, King of the Universe, and head into Advent, let’s reflect on why Jesus came in the first place. He came to unite us. As we head into Advent and prepare for Christmas and his coming, let’s not forget that he promised to come again. That is the arrival we need to focus on most. If Jesus came today, would your heart be pure and humble? Would it exude a joyful and faithful spirit? Would it hold a merciful spirit or be holding onto grudges and past hurts and betrayals? Would it be a generous heart or greedy and selfish one?

There still is time, get your house in order, get your heart in order. We all need to start practicing these ideals we preach and boast about so much, and that starts right here in our own communities and then spreads from there, throughout the world. Let the seed be planted, take root and spread like an invasive ground cover. Let it blanket the whole Earth, not just our country, with goodness and light, and Christ. Our Heavenly Home has a gate open to every color, creed, race, and nationality.