"Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and to God what belongs to God."­ Matthew 22:21

AS ELECTIONS draw near, I want to remind all our Jamaican people that those who are eligible to vote should do so and hence render to the nation what we owe it, for the good of the nation. This is part of our Christian duty.

Jamaica is a Christian nation and we should hold true to this identity of ours. We need to also preserve this identity by living out our Christian calling faithfully and by promoting Christian values. We need leaders who are faithful to Christ, who follow His exemplary leadership, and who are willing to stretch themselves out on the Cross for the good of the people. Therefore, all Jamaicans should vote for whatever party most closely follows Christian ideals.

The truly Christian party will hold to their promises on matters of housing, jobs, education, and justice for the poor. They will also strive to get rid of all evils and immorality which flow from a selfish, hedonistic, and materialistic way of life, and in particular the evils of gambling, prostitution, nakedness on beaches, nude weddings, drugs, crimes, the abuse of women and children, and a disregard for the homeless and abandoned poor.

A party is said to be Christian when it is able to promote the value of and a high regard for labour. When we travel in the ghettos daily, we see young men and women wasting their lives away because of unemployment.

They need to be inspired and motivated to use their God-given talents properly for their own good, the good of the nation, and for the glory and honour of God. There should be a promotion of Christian values in the media while at the same time banning all portrayals of immorality and senseless violence. A Christian party will foster a deep and sincere love for our country and our fellowmen.

To be considered a Christian party, it must exhibit itself as truthful in speech; it must show mercy and love towards the forgotten. It must not give into the rich and their demands for favours. It must never allow immorality as a means of enriching the economy, but rather it should strive to a greater perfection in Christian charity and holiness. Finally, it must be free from all political corruption and greed, and the misuse of power for personal privilege.

We are a nation that should be centred on Christ. Jamaicans are a multi-talented people, and these gifts bestowed on us by God should be re-directed to Him. Therefore, let us vote for that party which not only promises these Christian values by mere empty words, but which also brings them about in reality by putting them into action.

As Election Day approaches we have already begun to hear back-biting and slander, and we see more and more violence. A deepening of divisions and hatred are already more evident. However, a true Christian nation never has such divisions because 'a family that prays together stays together.' A nation that has Christ at its centre is a bright light that shines in the darkness. Let us be that nation.

Fr. Richard Ho Lung is Founder and Superior General of the Missionaries of the Poor.