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Election Reflection

Media Statement from
The Most Reverend Sean Patrick O’Malley O.F.M. Cap.
Former Bishop Catholic Diocese of Palm Beach

(Released by the Communication Department of the Diocese of Palm Beach)

Election Reflection

By Bishop Sean P. O’Malley, OFM Cap.
From The Anchor., the weekly newspaper of the Fall River Diocese

Let the law be observed! Rise, then, for this is your duty! We will stand by you, so have courage and take action! (Ez. 10:3-4).

Recently, someone asked me: “Who are you voting for” of course, my initial reaction was “it is none of your business!” however, it is a question that bears asking. When we go into the voting booth, it is in some ways like going into the confessional box. The curtains closes behind us and we stand there before God and cast a ballot supposedly for the one whom we believe in conscience to be the best person. The difference is, I fear, that whereas we leave the confessional unburdened and peaceful with the joyful excitement of tasting God’s mercy, we can leave the voting booth with a heavy heart because perhaps we have said “Yes” to evil forces at work in this land.

Words to Live by...

I would rather live my life as if there is a God, and die to find out there isn't, than live my life as if there isn't a God, and die to find out there is!

The Twenty Dollar Bill

A well known speaker started off his seminar by holding up a $20.00 bill. In the room of 200, he asked, "Who would like this $20 bill?" Hands started going up.

He said, "I am going to give this $20 to one of you but first, let me do this. He proceeded to crumple up the $20 dollar bill. He then asked, "Who still wants it?" Still the hands were up in the air.

Well, he replied, "What if I do this?" And he dropped it on the ground and started to grind it into the floor with his shoe. He picked it up, now crumpled and dirty. "Now, who still wants it?" Still the hands went into the air.

My friends, we have all learned a very valuable lesson. No matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease in value. It was still worth $20. Many times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled, and ground into the dirt by the decisions we make and the circumstances that come our way. We feel as though we are worthless. But no matter what has happened or what will happen, you will never lose your value. Dirty or clean, crumpled or finely creased, you are still priceless to those who DO LOVE you.

The worth of our lives comes not in what we do or who we know, but by WHO WE ARE.