A message to the President

It is also a message to all Senators and members of Congress.

It is a message to Justices, judges, Cabinet Secretaries, and all high-level officials.

It is a message to heads of state and government and to legislators everywhere.

It is a message to all public servants who exercise authority over others.

It is a message to every one of us who has some role in government or who are exalted in any way: in society, in business, in the Church, or in a family.

It is a message from God in today’s first reading (Wisdom 6:1-11): a message to all of us.

Hear, O kings, and understand;
learn, you magistrates of the earth’s expanse!
Hearken, you who are in power over the multitude
and lord it over throngs of peoples!

Because authority was given you by the Lord
and sovereignty by the Most High,
who shall probe your works
and scrutinize your counsels.

Because, though you were ministers of his kingdom,
you judged not rightly,
and did not keep the law,
nor walk according to the will of God,
Terribly and swiftly shall he come against you,
because judgment is stern for the exalted–
For the lowly may be pardoned out of mercy
but the mighty shall be mightily put to the test.

For the Lord of all shows no partiality,
nor does he fear greatness,
Because he himself made the great as well as the small,
and he provides for all alike;
but for those in power
a rigorous scrutiny impends.

To you, therefore, O princes,
are my words addressed
that you may learn wisdom
and that you may not sin.

For those who keep the holy precepts hallowed
shall be found holy,
and those learned in them
will have ready a response.

Desire therefore my words;
long for them and you shall be instructed.