Fr. Scott Brubaker, pastor of St. Bridget Roman Catholic Parish in Mesa, recently noted that God should be in control of our lives and not we ourselves.

"All Catholic Christians are called through baptism to work for the Reign of God to be made more manifest on earth," Brubaker said in the church's Nov. 8 bulletin. "That means that ultimately what matters is finding, exploring, experiencing and sharing this state of being that is perfect union, love and mercy with each other and all creation."

After the last election, Brubaker shared a reflection from Richard Rohr, a Franciscan spiritual writer; and he wanted to share those words again at this time regarding an "ugly and injurious political climate."

"The over-defended ego always sees, hates and attacks in other people its own faults— the parts of ourselves that we struggle to acknowledge," Brubaker quoted Rohr in the bulletin. "We might feel justified in not giving way on important moral issues— and there are many— but this can often just be a way of feeling right, superior and in control."

The pastor advised parishioners to take refuge in God and rely on him in every situation.

"The true religious sense of poverty is to depend, willingly and joyfully, on the Lord," Fr. Brubaker concluded.