In the Baptist church of my youth, Bibles with "reading plans" were popular. When I became an Episcopalian, I found that I didn't have to give up a reading plan for the Bible.

Beginning on page 936 is a two-year plan called the "Daily Office Lectionary," with readings from the Old Testament, Gospels and Letters. It also gives you a selection of Psalms to meditate on. Or you can go through the Psalter in the BCP, starting on page 585, and read from a selection of psalms in the morning and evening in a monthly cycle

Almost invariably, I find that something from the readings and psalms is exactly what I need to hear that day. And so it was this morning of November 4, 2008 -- Election Day.

One of the psalms appointed for the fourth day of the month is Psalm 20, where this morning I chanted, "Now I know that the LORD gives victory to his anointed." It is from the Hebrew word for "anointed" that we get the Hebrew term, "Messiah," which in ancient Greek was translated, "Christos."

At the end of this day, presumably, either Barack Obama or John McCain will declare victory in the race for the most powerful office in the world. Millions of Americans will be deeply disappointed, and perhaps fear for the future of the country. Millions more will rejoice for our future. There will be Christians of good conscience in both camps.

I don't minimize the hopes and fears of either. Hopefully every day we pray that "thy kingdom come." The Good News is not just a hope for salvation when our physical life is ended. "For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him" (John 3:17). Salvation is as real in this world as in the next.

Our political choices for those who govern in the kingdoms of the earth are not irrelevant to that future kingdom where heaven and earth will be one. So, as Christians, it is right that we apply our best understanding of the Gospel to the political choices we make, hoping that those choices might advance the spread of God's justice and peace in this world.

But to whom does God give the victory? His "Anointed One," Jesus Christ. Victory does not belong to a political party, but to Christ. And that victory, sealed by the Cross and Resurrection, is assured, regardless of who becomes the President of the United States.

Of course, God gives us the freedom to assist, or hinder, the spread of Christ's kingdom. Tonight, some may feel that kingdom has taken a great step forward. Others may fear for the future of this world that Jesus came to save. But in truth, no human being knows the future. No one can "know" with certainty whether the world will be better off with President Obama or President McCain.

What we can have faith in is this: if Jesus could take the ultimate sign of defeat and transform it into the victory of God's love, then the final victory of Jesus Christ will not be stopped by the result of an election. That victory will take a different path depending on whom we, in our freedom, choose to elect. But the victory of Christ is inevitable. Nations and empires rise and fall. But Jesus is always risen. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.