WHEN A JESUS YOUTH SHOWS INTEREST IN POLITICS | KAIROS GLOBAL | JULY 2024

Author: Dr Edward Edezhath

A few years back, at a marriage reception, a young woman approached me and introduced herself. ‘I am Mary. During my college days, I was very regular in your prayer group.’ The mother of three with a now hectic life continued, ‘I want to tell you something. Will you be upset?’ I didn’t know how to respond and just smiled. ‘A few years back, when you were a candidate in the elections to the parliament, all your cotton khadi shirts were stitched at my shop.’ 

My thoughts went back to those hectic days of campaigning. ‘Your wife came to my shop and brought the clothing material and measurements for your shirts. After she left, I told my girls to stitch the shirts except the buttons. I personally stitched all your shirt buttons, praying fervently while I did that you would fail in the elections!’ Both of us laughed. ‘Your prayer group and the teachings and guidance I received there were precious. I am indebted to the group for my faith and all the good things in my life. I didn’t want the Lord to lose you and all our youngsters to miss that group. That’s why I wanted you not to win the elections. I am so thankful to the Lord that he heard my prayer and you failed. Sorry!’ I was so amused by her ‘confession’ and started laughing out loud.  

‘Politics is not for good people.’

I don’t know if any mother would pray for her son or daughter to become a politician! Of course, they would pray and encourage them to be teachers, priests, doctors, businesspeople, government servants, and so on, but not to have a political career. I have heard numerous jokes or funny sayings ridiculing politicians.

I contested the 2004 elections to the Indian Parliament. How did others respond to that step? There was good support from my home front. My family members respected my decision and offered full backup. My bishop and other church authorities were positively excited. My Jesus Youth circles rallied around and offered all sorts of help, even though, for most of them, that was their first and most unexpected exposure to a very strange field. 

But some sections of well-meaning religious people and many others were quite upset. ‘Some of us left politics and were converted to prayer life. How can you, a good Christian, now fall into this?’ For them, that was something most unexpected. Someone asked me a question that a good priest raised, ‘Will he be able to take a bribe or be involved in group fights? If he can’t, why does he get into all this?’

Some others were genuinely inquisitive and asked, ‘But why did you take this unusual step of getting involved in politics?’ I shared my reasons with some of those who came to me with similar questions. 

Like many people from middle-class backgrounds, in regular careers and active in spiritual fields, I too, had viewed politics and politicians as something quite strange. If someone had asked me to connect, I would’ve rather run away. What challenged my thinking was the teachings of the Church on this, especially Pope John Paul II’s Christifideles Laici. Evangelisation is working for a change that Jesus wants to make in the world out there. A Christian must be present in the ‘public sphere.’ Building up a ‘private-only spirituality’ is a temptation, and it is against what God wants. All corruption and problems we see in politicians do not justify our keeping away from it. Rather, this shows the need for good people to get involved.

And my reply to those who asked me was, with all these Church teachings in mind, I could not but say yes when a request came to get involved in politics. Had I said ‘no,’ I would go against what God intended for me and the world. In brief, this was why I said yes to politics. 

Is politics really bad?

I have read about saintly queens and kings, saints from political fields like Thomas More and Nicholas of Flüe, and recent venerable Christian politicians like Alberto Marvelli, Francis Taylor, Julius Nyerere, Dorothy Day, and Robert Schuman. Yet, my close walk with politicians, when I became involved there, opened my eyes to some surprising realities. 

Many people in politics do so because they see it as the best way to transcend their selfish pursuits, connect with others, and serve needy people selflessly. Even when they see selfish and corrupt politicians, they don’t get discouraged but continue the good they do (Is it not the same about believers? We see very corrupt believers, but don’t give up).

In a political platform, you come across all kinds of people.  Nice ones, crazy people, believers, atheists, Hindus, Muslims, rich, poor – the range is unbelievable. Then you realise in the Church, the movement, or even your workplace how small a segment of society you deal with. When Jesus said ‘Go,’ didn’t he mean to go to the wide world like this? 

Anyone can come and demand things from even a small politician. It is their right. But not to someone doing charity in a parish. If a poor person comes and demands from a parish leader or the priest that would be the end.

When you think of all this, you understand Jesus’ words in a new light, Many will come from east and west and sit at table . . . in the kingdom of heaven, while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness (Matthew 8:11,12).

We need good politicians

Pope Francis’ prayer is the prayer of all who pray for God’s Kingdom, ‘I beg the Lord to grant us more politicians who are genuinely disturbed by the state of society, the people, the lives of the poor!’ (Evangelii Gaudium 205) And where will they come from? From our communities and also from Jesus Youth. 

I am excited when a Jesus Youth leader tells me that a youngster is interested in politics. Some connect with me to hear my views and ask for guidance. I encourage them, tell them its importance, and talk about the more tolerant and inclusive attitude they will need. Politics and other forms of public presence are the most challenging and much-needed steps of evangelisation. That can be a heavy cross, but the Lord invites some daring disciples to commit.