Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake.

Early on the morn of election day, I checked in with a friend on the phone to share last minute observations. He was feeling queasy, not at all confident about the outcome. I asked him if he had a chance to read the readings of the day yet. He said he hadn't. "I think we're screwed", I said.

Who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and, found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross. Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

 So that's that. Minds are too distant from the intellect of God. Lobotomy of unrepentant sin. It is all too far gone to fix any other way but bring everyone to their knees.

 Even more captivating is the confidence with which they expel their cognitive dissonance. Winning! 

This visible display of the devil's power feels creepy. 

My gut instinctually tells me I'm watching something I shouldn't. Something perverted.   I suppose it is.  The rape a soul.

 Observing the phenomenon, there is always a powerful emotion in the subterfuge of their diabolical disorientation. Letting emotions lead you by the nose sure is a recipe for disaster.

 The passion and death will be long, drawn out, ugly.  I don't have anything profound to say, other than 'worthy is the lamb'.

 I've been thinking a great deal of John Paul II over the past few days. As the saying goes, in his flesh he completed what is lacking in Christ's afflictions.

If you're looking for good reading, his apostolic letter salvifici doloris is an excellent reflection.

 The mystery of the Redemption of the world is in an amazing way rooted in suffering, and this suffering in turn finds in the mystery of the Redemption its supreme and surest point of reference. We wish to live this Year of the Redemption in special union with all those who suffer.

And so there should come together in spirit beneath the Cross on Calvary all suffering people who believe in Christ, and particularly those who suffer because of their faith in him who is the Crucified and Risen One, so that the offering of their sufferings may hasten the fulfillment of the prayer of the Saviour himself that all may be one(102).

Let there also gather beneath the Cross all people of good will, for on this Cross is the "Redeemer of man", the Man of Sorrows, who has taken upon himself the physical and moral sufferings of the people of all times, so that in love they may find the salvific meaning of their sorrow and valid answers to all of their questions.

 Together with Mary, Mother of Christ, who stood beneath the Cross(103),we pause beside all the crosses of contemporary man.

 We invoke all the Saints, who down the centuries in a special way shared in the suffering of Christ. We ask them to support us.

 And we ask all you who suffer to support us.

We ask precisely you who are weak to become a source of strength for the Church and humanity. In the terrible battle between the forces of good and evil, revealed to our eyes by our modern world, may your suffering in union with the Cross of Christ be victorious!

 To all of you, dearest brothers and sisters, I send my Apostolic Blessing.

What more is there to say?