17th Sunday, Wisdom to Vote for Judges, Who have Wisdom

 

In the first reading from the First Book of Kings, the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream and said, "Ask of me something and I will give it to you."

Solomon could have asked for a long life, or riches and material possessions or ask that God defeat his enemies. But, he didn't. Instead, he asked for the gift of wisdom. He said, "Give your servant, therefore, an understanding heart to judge your people and to distinguish right from wrong."

Solomon understands wisdom is more valuable than material possessions or his own needs. His example encourages us to seek God’s guidance-- before seeking personal gain. It reminds us that true success comes from aligning our decisions with God’s will. Solomon does not rely solely on his own abilities, but turns to God for wisdom, demonstrating the trust that every disciple should have in the Lord and therefore teaches humility. Solomon wants to properly judge God's people and to distinguish right from wrong.

What is wisdom? We will discuss two types of wisdom, practical wisdom and God's wisdom.

Practical wisdom consists in the kind of learning that can only be obtained by experience. There is a difference between a wise carpenter, who has been building houses for decades, and one who has only been on the job for a week. The longtime carpenter has had his judgment shaped by his experience. He knows just how hard to hit a nail, how to join a stubborn board to another, how to fix a wall bent out of shape. That kind of build-up of practical experience is a real form of wisdom. Yet it is limited to a technical sphere. We can also gain wider life experience that over time helps us live more effortlessly. Learning over time how to get up early, work hard, save money, help others, and consistently make good decisions is a kind of wisdom that comes with experience. If we live well, we will accumulate this type of wisdom that enables us grow in the art of living.

However, there is a more important wisdom associated with God. St. Thomas Aquinas describes it as "right judgment in accord with eternal law." To put it another way, wisdom is seeing things the way God sees them. 

Judges make decisions on behalf of people accused of things or they decide what is just verses what is unjust. They attempt to judge rightly, but if their decisions are not associated with God, they can be seriously wrong.

When we elect a judge, we want someone who will "distinguish between right and wrong" and who will "judge with an understanding heart". We want the judge to be bring about justice and judge in accord with God's eternal laws. This is why it's important to give witness to our Christian faith in everything we do including politically. Because if laws are not associated with God's eternal laws, judgments can be gravely harmful to those involved and the community.

But, if judges are guided by the Christian faith, our state and country we will prosper with peace and justice. Our country was founded on Christian principles.

On January 22, 1973, the United States Supreme Court made a judgment that the US Constitution protects the rights of pregnant women to choose to have an abortion. Their erroneous judgment resulted in 60 million abortions from 1973 to 2022.

In 2022 the Roe vs Wade decision was overturned by the Supreme Court, which resulted in each state determining if abortion is legal. However, overturning of Roe vs Wade didn't solve the problem of abortion in our country.

All US laws should be in accord with God's eternal law written in the Declaration of Independence which guarantees the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. And the Supreme Court should uphold these laws.

In 2019 and 2024, the Kansas Supreme Court ruled that the Kansas constitution allows abortion. But, the actual state constitution does not even mention abortion. The error in judgment by the judges of the Kansas Supreme Court allows no restrictions on abortion at all, which has resulted in thousands of women coming from other states for abortion in our state of Kansas.

The Supreme Court Judges appointed by presidents and judges appointed by governors of Kansas have not made right judgments in accord with God's eternal law, which has caused terrible harm including deaths to children, and spiritual and emotional harm to American citizens.

It used to be that the people of our state voted for the Kansas Supreme Court Judges, but that changed 100 years ago, and so now there is a process by which the governor appoints the Kansas Supreme Court justices.

On August 4th, the people of Kansas will have opportunity to vote on whether or not return to the people of Kansas the right to elect our own Kansas Supreme Court judges, rather than a group of lawyers & non-lawyers, who give their recommendation to the governor, who appoints them. Therefore, is it best to be sure Kansas Supreme Court judges will judge in accord with God's eternal law, if the governor chooses them or the people of Kansas choose them?

On August 4th, you have the opportunity to change our constitution to allow Kansans to elect their own judges. As Christians we want to elect judges with practical wisdom and especially judge in accord with God's eternal law. We want judges who will turn to God for wisdom and align their decisions with God's will. As Solomon said, "to judge God's people and to distinguish right from wrong."

Written in the US Declaration of Independence, it states, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." This statement makes it clear that all Americans have the right to life. Life is foundation of all rights, and if we don't have life, we cannot have the right to liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

My friends, the Lord is not speaking to you in a dream, like he did to Solomon. But He is speaking to you today, saying, "Ask of me something and I will give it to you." Will you ask for riches, material possessions or to defeat your enemies? Or will you have the wisdom of Solomon and say, "Give your servant, therefore, an understanding heart to judge your people and to distinguish right from wrong", so that when I vote-- our state will have the greatest opportunity to have judges who will follow God's eternal laws, and judge in accord with Your will. Amen."

Retired Archbishop Naumann of Kansas City, said, " I encourage Catholics, fellow Christians, all people of faith and people of goodwill to pray for wisdom and prudence in casting their votes. As the retired archbishop of Kansas City, I do not speak for the archdiocese. But as a registered Kansas voter, I will be voting to restore to Kansans the ability to choose the justices who serve on the Kansas Supreme Court. I encourage Americans to educate themselves about the process for selecting judges and state supreme court justices in their states. Our Founders wisely created a governing system that has served our country well for 250 years. God has blessed abundantly the United States of America. We must never take for granted the sacrifices made by so many of our ancestors, who helped found and preserve our nation. We need to be educated and involved citizens for future generations to enjoy the freedoms and opportunities that have been entrusted to us."

My friends, starting Monday, you can go to the Rice County courthouse in Lyons and vote in advance or you can vote in Little River on August 4th.

May Mary, the Seat of Wisdom, who held Jesus, the Eternal Wisdom in Her arms, as a Child, help us to wisely vote in accord with God's eternal laws and vote with right judgment and an understanding heart.