(1)
Almighty God
has created and organized everything in the heavens, on land, and in the ocean
most excellently and perfectly. In heaven, he has appointed different kinds and
ranks of angels and archangels. On earth, he has assigned and appointed heads
of state and government as well as the governors under them in a good and
necessary order. Water vapor is dissolved within the atmosphere and condenses
into rain and snow at the appropriate time and season. The sun, moon, stars,
rainbows, thunder, lightning, clouds, and all birds of the air come into being
and behave according to a fixed order, as do plants and animals on land; the
divisions of time into years, months, nights, and days; the fish of the sea, as
well as the sea itself. All are bound by physical laws and physical limits in a
most harmonious order. And each human being has inner and outer parts of his or
her body such as the soul, heart, mind, memory, understanding, reason, speech,
nose, mouth, limbs etc. in a profitable, necessary, and pleasant order.
Everyone
in their job, calling, and office has a duty and rank. Some rank highly. Some
rank lowly. Some are queens, presidents, and prime ministers. Some are trainee
associates at big box stores. Clergy and laity; supervisors and subordinates;
parents and children; husbands and wives; rich and poor; ranks and callings may
differ, but each rank and calling has a need for everyone else. And so the good
order of God is worthy of thanks and praise under all circumstances, for no
house, city, or commonwealth can survive without it. Where right order does not
reign, every abuse, liberty of the flesh, atrocious crime, sin, and Babylonian
confusion reigns instead. If you were to take away queens, presidents, prime
ministers, legislators, judges, and similar offices in God’s order, no one
would be able to travel without being robbed; no one would be able to sleep in
their own house or bed without being murdered; and no one would be able to have
property or a family life unmolested. Instead, everything would belong to
whomever would take it, and from this involuntary sharing would follow every
mischief until there was utter destruction of souls, bodies, property, and
commonwealths.
Blessed be God that we in the United
Kingdom do not experience the horrible calamities, miseries, and wretchedness
that all who lack this godly order of government experience. And praise God
that we know how richly God has blessed us in placing us here. God has sent us
His high gift, our most dear Sovereign Lady Queen Elizabeth who has the godly,
wise, and honorable counsel of her own mind as well as that of the superior and
inferior officials of Her Majesty’s Government and Loyal Opposition in a
beautiful and good order. And therefore, let us her subjects do our duties,
thanking God and praying for the preservation of this godly order. Let us all
obey from the bottom of our hearts all of their godly proceedings, laws,
statutes, proclamations, and injunctions as well as all their other godly
orders. Let us consider the
Scriptures of the Holy Spirit, which persuade and command us to obey, first and
principally to Her Majesty the Queen, Supreme Governor over all, and next to
her Privy Council, and to all other officials of government, who God’s goodness
has placed over us.
For
Almighty God is the only creator and provider of the state and order of
government, as it is written of God in Proverbs, “Through Me kings reign,
through Me counselors make just laws, through Me princes wield authority, and
all of the judges of the earth execute judgment. I love those who love me.”
(Prov. 8:15-17). Here let us pay close attention and remember that the high
power and authority of governments and their making of laws, judgments, and
official appointments are the ordinances, not of human beings, but of God; and
therefore this phrase, “Through me” is so often repeated. Here we also should
consider and remember carefully that this good order was organized by God’s wisdom,
favor, and special love for those who love God: and therefore He says, “I love
those who love me.”
Also
in the Book of Wisdom, we learn that the power, authority, and strength of a
king is a great benefit of God: a great mercy intended to comfort our great
misery, “Hear, O you kings and understand; learn, you that are judges in the
remotest places of the earth; listen carefully, you that rule great nations;
the power you have was given to you by the Lord and your strength comes from
the Highest” (Wisd. 6:1-3). Let the infallible word of God teach us here that
kings and other supreme and higher officials are appointed by God, who is the
Most High; and therefore, they are commanded by these words to seek knowledge
and wisdom about how they can best govern those whom God has committed to their
care. And they are additionally taught that their power and strength does not
come from any authority on Earth but directly from God Most High.
The
Book of Deuteronomy tells us that all punishment is the prerogative of God,
saying “Vengeance is mine, and I will repay” (Deut. 32:35). But we should
interpret this sentence to pertain also to judges and all who enforce the law,
who judge and punish in place of God according to good and godly laws. And the
examples in Scripture which appear to forbid judgment, punishment, or killing
to Christians should be interpreted to mean that no one of their own private
authority should judge, punish, or kill another person. Instead, we should
leave judgment to God, governments, and the law courts, to which God has delegated
the execution of justice. Scripture clearly says that God has given to
governments their authority and monopoly upon violence, as we are taught by St.
Paul, the dear and chosen Apostle of our Savior Christ, whom we should obey as
we would our Savior Christ, if He were present.
St. Paul writes to the Romans, “Every person must submit to the
authorities in power, for all authority comes from God, and the existing
authorities are instituted by Him. It follows that anyone who rebels against
authority is resisting a divine institution, and those who resist have
themselves to thank for the punishment they will receive. Governments hold no
terrors for the law-abiding but only for the criminal. You wish to have no fear
of the authorities? Then continue to do right and you will have their approval,
for they are God’s agents working for your good. But if you are doing wrong,
then you will have cause to fear them; it is not for nothing that they hold the
sword, for they are God’s agents of punishment bringing retribution on the
offender. That is why you are obliged to submit. It is an obligation imposed
not merely by fear of retribution but by conscience. That is also why you pay
taxes. The authorities are in God’s service and it is to this that they devote
their energies” (Rom. 13:1-6).
Here let us all learn from St. Paul, the chosen vessel of God (Acts
9:15), that every person with a soul (he excuses none, nor exempts none,
neither priest, apostle, nor prophets says St. John Chrysostom) are morally
obligated to obey, submit, and be subject to the high powers set in authority
by God, for they are God’s deputies, God’s presidents, God’s officials, God’s
commissioners, and God’s judges, ordained by God Himself, from whom they derive
all of their power and authority. And the same St. Paul threatens the extreme
penalty of eternal damnation to all disobedient people, to all who resist this
general and common authority, for these people do not resist human beings; they
resist God. They do not resist something of human creation and ingenuity; they
resist something created by God’s wisdom, God’s order, power, and authority.
(2)
We taught in
the first part of this Homily concerning good order and obedience that God has
created and arranged all things in a beautiful order, so we should maintain all
commonwealths in a similarly good and beautiful order by obeying those in
power, their ordinances and laws; and that all rulers have been appointed by
God to keep the world in godly order; and also how government officials should
learn how to rule and govern according to God’s laws; and that all subjects are
bound to obey the authorities as the delegates of God; yes, even if they are
evil, not only out of fear, but as a moral duty.
And
here, my friends, let us be very clear that it is not lawful for inferiors or
subjects to ever resist those in authority, for St. Paul’s words are plain,
“that whoever rebels against authority is resisting a divine institution” (Rom.
13:2). Our Savior Christ himself and his Apostles were wronged and injured by
the unfaithful and wicked men in authority in their day, yet we never read that
any of them caused any sedition or rebellion against authority. We often read
that they patiently suffered all troubles, nuisances, slander, pain, suffering,
and death itself obediently, without inciting others or breaching the peace
themselves. They “delivered [themselves] to Him who judges justly” and prayed
for their enemies deeply and authentically (1 Pet. 2:23). [Ed.: The passage refers
specifically to Christ, but the Homilist cites it as the conduct of the
Apostles generally.] They knew that God ordained the authority of the
government; and therefore, both in their words and actions, they always taught
people to obey it and never taught the opposite.
The
wicked judge Pilate said to Christ, “’Do you not know that I have the power to
put you to death and the power to acquit you?’ Jesus answered, “You could have
no authority over me if it had not been given to you from above” (Jn.
19:10-11). With these words, Christ clearly taught us that even wicked rulers
have power and authority given to them by God. And therefore it is not lawful
for their subjects to resist them by force, even if they abuse their power,
even less so is it lawful for subjects to resist their godly and Christian
rulers, who do not abuse their authority, but use their power to glorify God
and promote the welfare of God’s people.
The
holy Apostle St. Peter commands servants to obey their masters, “not only those
who are kind and forbearing, but even to those who are unjust,” (1 Pet.
2:18-19) affirming that God’s people are called to be patient and suffering.
And St. Peter even invokes the patience of our Savior Christ to argue for
obedience to governors, yes, even if they are wicked criminals. But let us now
hear St. Peter himself speak in his first Letter, for his own words should give
us confidence in our doubts, “Servants, obey your masters with all due respect,
not only if they are kind and forbearing, but even those who are unjust. It is
a sign of grace in the sight of God when you have endured suffering for
behaving well. And indeed what praise do you deserve for enduring punishment
patiently when you have deserved it? But when you do well and suffer wrong but
endure it patiently, you will have God’s grace. This indeed is your vocation,
because Christ suffered on your behalf and left an example for you to follow”
(1 Pet. 2:18-21).
David
also teaches us a good lesson about obeying rulers who wrong you. King Saul
very often cruelly and wrongly persecuted him, and indeed King Saul and his
deputies tried to kill David on many occasions. Yet David never disobeyed King
Saul, nor did he use any force or violence against his mortal enemy but truly,
diligently, and faithfully served King Saul as his ruler and master (1 Sam.
18-20). In fact, when the Lord handed Saul into David’s power in David’s own
cave, David would not hurt Saul, even though he could have killed Saul easily
without any danger to himself (1 Sam 24). No, indeed, he would not even allow
any of his servants to capture King Saul but prayed to God in this way, “God
forbid that I should harm my master, the Lord’s anointed, or lift a hand
against him. He is after all the Lord’s anointed…As the Lord lives, the Lord
will strike him down, either his time will come and he will die, or he will go
down to battle and meet his end. God forbid that I should lift my hand against
the Lord’s anointed” (1 Sam. 24:4-7, 26:10-11). [Ed.: The Vulgate puts the verses from Chapter 26 in Chapter 24 in some
manuscripts.] And that David had the opportunity to kill Saul is clearly
proved here by David’s ability to cut off a piece of Saul’s clothing as well as
Saul’s own admission.
In
another incident in the First Book of the Prophet Samuel, King Saul
unmercifully and unkindly persecuted David and God again gave King Saul into
David’s hands by putting King Saul and his whole army into a deep sleep, so
that David and his soldier Abishai went in the midst of Saul’s army, where Saul
was sleeping, and “his spear was thrust into the ground beside his head. Then Abishai
said to David, ‘God has put your enemy into your power today. Let me strike him
and pin him to the ground with one thrust of the spear. I shall not have to
strike twice,” intending to kill Saul with one stroke and do away with him
forever. And David then repeated much of the speech he had in the cave and
said, “But now let us take the spear by his head and the water-jar and go” (1
Sam. 26:11), and so he did. These incidents clearly demonstrate that we may not
resist or in any way hurt an anointed king, who is God’s deputy, vice-regent,
and highest minister in the country where he is king.
But
some might object that David might have justifiably killed Saul in
self-defense. But holy David did know that he should not in any way resist,
hurt, or kill his sovereign lord and king: he did know that he only King Saul’s
subject, even though he was a great favorite of God and King Saul was an object
of divine displeasure. Therefore, even though David was greatly provoked, he
utterly refused to hurt the Lord’s anointed. He did not dare offend God and his
own conscience (although he had at least two opportunities) to lay his hands
upon God’s high officer, the king, because he knew that the king was a person
accountable only to God for punishment and judgment. Therefore, he prayed so
often and earnestly that he should never lay his hands upon the Lord’s
anointed. And by these two examples, David, being named in Scripture, “a man
after God’s own heart” (e.g., 1 Sam. 13:14) hands down a general rule and
lesson to all subjects in the world not to resist their lord the king (or
equivalent head of state), not to take up arms by their private authority
against their king, God’s anointed; who holds the monopoly upon violence by
God’s authority, for the maintenance of the good and punishment of the evil;
whose ability to exercise that monopoly is according to God’s law; and also
possesses all power, jurisdiction, rule, coercion, and punishment as supreme
governor of all his realms and dominions by the authority of God and God’s ordinances.
Yet
another notable story and teaching relevant to obedience to the government is
in Second Samuel. An Amalekite killed King Saul after King Saul commanded him
to do so. This Amalekite then went to David, expecting David ‘s gratitude and
reward for having killed his deadly enemy. And so this Amalekite rushed to tell
David the news and brought Saul’s crown and bracelet to prove the kill. But
godly David did anything but rejoice at the news. He tore off his clothes,
mourned, and wept, saying to the Amalekite, “How is it that you were not afraid
to raise your hand to kill the Lord’s anointed?” (2 Sam. 1:14). He then
commanded one of his servants to kill the Amalekite, saying, “Your blood be on
your own head; for out of your mouth you condemned yourself by saying, ‘I
killed the Lord’s anointed.’”
These
examples are so obvious that it is unbearably ignorant, mad, and wicked for
subjects to make any murmuring, rebellion, resistance, commotion, or
insurrection against their most dear and honorable Sovereign Lord and King,
ordained and appointed by the goodness of God for their benefit, peace, and
quietness.
Yet
let us believe without any doubts, my friends, that we may not obey kings,
presidents, or any other official, though they are our own fathers, if they
command us to do any thing contrary to God’s commandments. In such a case, we
ought to say with the Apostles, “We must obey God rather than men” (Acts.
5:29). But nevertheless in that case, we may not in any way violently resist or
rebel against rulers or make any insurrection, sedition, or breach of the
peace, either by force of arms or other ways against the anointed of the Lord
or any of his appointed officers; but we must in that case patiently suffer all
wrongs and injuries, referring the judgment of our cause only to God. Let us
fear the terrible ways that Almighty God has punished traitors or rebels such
as Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, who showed contempt for and complained against
God’s magistrates and officers, and therefore the earth opened and swallowed
them up alive (Num. 16:1-33). Others were punished by a fire from God because
of their complaining (Num 11:1). Miriam tried to undermine Moses’s authority
and was suddenly struck with foul leprosy for her rebellion against God’s
minister (Num. 12). Others were bitten by venomous snakes (Num. 21:6). Others
were struck by plague so that 14,700 were killed in a day for their rebellion
against Moses and Aaron, whom God had put in charge (Num. 16:41-29). Absalom,
also, in rebellion against his father King David was punished with a strange
and notable death (2 Sam. 18:9).
(3)
You have
heard in the previous parts of this Homily about good order and obedience, for
I have clearly demonstrated from the Scriptures and examples that all are bound
to obey the political authorities in the countries in which they live and have
no good reason to resist, rebel, or call for rebellion against them. Yes, even
if they are wicked people. And let no one think that they can escape unpunished
if they commit treason against their nation and its rulers, even if they commit
treason in the utmost secrecy in thought, word, or deed. Even if they do so in
the most secret recesses of their bedrooms by themselves or else openly
communicating and conspiring with others, they will not escape punishment. For
treason cannot remain hidden; treason will be revealed in full. God will ensure
that that most detestable vice will come to light and be punished; for it is so
directly aimed against His ordinance and his chief judges and anointed governors
upon the earth. The violence and injury that is committed against authority is
committed against God, the common good, and the entire nation; which God will
ensure is detected and punished appropriately in one way or another. For the
Wise Man of the Scriptures writes in Ecclesiastes, “Do not revile the king in
your thoughts nor speak ill of him in your bedroom, for a bird in the sky may
carry your words and a bird on the wing may report what you say” (Eccles.
10:20).
These
lessons and examples were written to instruct us. Let us all therefore fear the
most detestable vice of rebellion, ever knowing and recalling that whoever
resists the authority of the community resists God and his ordinance, as it may
be demonstrated in many other parts of Holy Scripture.
And
here let us make sure that we do not confuse Scriptural injunctions about
lawful obedience to superiors and punishment for rebellion and disobedience to
suggest anything relevant to the pretended authority of the bishop of Rome. For
truly the Scripture of God does not allow the abusive usurpation of power, but
extols and proclaims God’s true will that anointed kings and the officers under
them should be the authorities. And concerning the assumed power of the bishop
of Rome, which he most wrongfully claims as the successor of Christ and Peter,
we may easily determine how false, pretended, and forged it is. It lacks any
ground in Holy Scripture and results in bad fruit and doctrine as well. For Our
Savior Christ and St. Peter earnestly and consistently teach that kings should
be obeyed as the chief and supreme rulers in this world under God, but the
bishop of Rome teaches that those under him are free from all obligations and
responsibilities to the commonwealth as well as obedience to the authorities,
which is most clearly against Christ’s teaching and St. Peter’s. [Ed.: The Pope certainly does not teach anything
quite this bold anymore.] He should therefore be called Antichrist and the
successor of the Scribes and Pharisees rather than Christ’s vicar or St.
Peter’s successor; because on this point and on other important matters of
Christian religion such as the remission and forgiveness of sins and salvation
itself, he teaches so directly against both St. Peter and our Savior Christ:
who not only taught obedience to kings, but also practiced obedience in their
conversation and living; for we read that they both paid tribute to the king
(Matt. 17:24-27). [Ed.: No, no, no, no.
That’s not what that passage says, at all, especially in its plain meaning.]
And we also read that the holy Virgin Mary, mother of our Savior, and
Joseph (his reputed father), went to Bethlehem, the city of David, in obedience
to an Imperial decree. There, they were taxed and declared their obedience to
the magistrates for the sake of God’s commandments (Lk. 2:7). [Ed. The Biblical text just says that they
were registered or assessed.] And let us not forget the Virgin Mary’s
obedience here. She was highly favored by God, the biological mother of the
Christ, and so heavily pregnant that she went into labor on the journey. Yet
she gladly and ungrudgingly took that cold and foul winter journey for the sake
of conscience. Indeed, they were so poor that she lay in a stable, where Christ
was born. [Or Jesus was born in the front
room of the typical Palestinian home, where there were feeding troughs for
animals. That fits the Greek, too.]
And
St. Peter supports this obedience, writing explicitly in his first Letter, “Submit
yourselves to every human authority; whether to the emperor, as the supreme
authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong
and praise those who do right, for it is God’s will…” (1 Pet. 2:13-15). St.
Peter did not say, “Submit yourselves to me as supreme head of the Church,” nor
did he say, “Submit yourselves from time to time to my successors in Rome,” but
he says submit yourselves unto your emperor (or king) as the supreme authority
and to those that he appoints to be exercise authority under him. For it is God’s
will that you should show your obedience to your head and king. This is God’s
ordinance, God’s commandment, and God’s holy will that the whole body of every
nation, and all the members and parts of the same, should be subject to the
supreme authority in that nation; and that, as St. Peter writes, “for the Lord’s
sake” and as St. Paul writes, “for conscience’s sake” and not only out of fear
of punishment.
Thus
God’s word teaches us to yield to our king (or head of state) what is due to
our king, that is, honor; obedience; payments of due taxes, customs, tribute,
and subsidies; love; and fear.
Thus
we know in part the duty we owe to the authorities that govern us: now let us
learn to accomplish the same. And let us immediately and heartily pray to God
the source of all authority for all of those that are in authority, as St. Paul
commands in his First Letter to Timothy, “First of all, I urge you that
prayers, supplications, intercessions, and thanksgiving may be made for all,
for kings, and for all that are in authority, that we may live a quiet and
peaceful life with all godliness and honesty, for that it is good and
acceptable in the sight of God our Savior” (1 Tim. 2:1-3). Here, St. Paul makes
an earnest and special exhortation concerning giving thanks for and praying for
kings and rulers, saying, “first of all,” as he might say. Or at any rate, he
means that the principal and chief prayers should be made for kings and other
heads of state. Let us heartily thank God for the great and excellent gift and
provision he has made to and for us by giving us kings and other heads of
state. Let us pray that they may have God’s favor and protection. Let us pray
that they may have God before their eyes in all that they do. Let us pray that
they may have wisdom, strength, justice, clemency, and zeal for God’s glory,
God’s truth, Christian souls, and the common good. Let us pray that they
correctly use their sword and authority for the maintenance and defense of the
catholic faith contained in the Holy Scriptures, the protection of their good
and honest subjects, and the frightening and punishment of their evil and
vicious people. Let us pray that they may faithfully follow the example of the
most faithful kings and captains in the Bible: David, Hezekiah, Josiah, Moses,
and others like them. And let us pray that we may live godly lives in a holy
and Christian walk, so that we will have God on our side. Then let us not fear
what human beings can do to us. So shall we live in true obedience, both to our
most merciful King in heaven, and to our most Christian Queen on Earth. So
shall we please God and have great benefits, such as peace of conscience, rest,
and quietness in this world; and shall enjoy a better life, rest, peace, and
the everlasting bliss of heaven afterwards. For this we are granted by Him who
was obedient for us all, even to death on a cross (Phil. 2:8), Jesus Christ; to
whom with the Father and the Holy Ghost, be all honor and glory, both now and
forever. Amen.
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