A Different Kind of Super PAC
Fr. Phil Paxton, CP
As I write this, there is a primary election going on in Florida. Apparently, the ads are getting more and more negative. Over the past few months, there has been discussion about these "super PACs" that run ads indirectly (or maybe not so indirectly) in support of one candidate or another, and whether they have undue influence on the whole election process.
As I was reflecting on the Scripture readings for this Sunday, I thought of another kind of "super-PAC," which could have a more positive influence on the world. Instead of being a Political Action Committee, it would be a Prayer Action Community, in other words, the church. The Scripture readings speak to every aspect of this kind of PAC:
Prayer - In our Gospel reading (Mark 1:29-39), Mark tells us that, after He had healed all who came to Him at night, He went the next morning to a "deserted place," and prayed. This time in prayer, I think, prepared Him for what He was to do next: go to the neighboring towns and villages and spread the Good News there. For us as individual disciples and as a church, prayer and worship are important to us. We cannot go about doing God’s will without taking some time to listen to what God’s will might be. At all times, we need to give thanks to God for what he has done for us. And for those of us who are Catholics, it’s important for us to listen to Jesus’ Word and be fed by His Body and Blood poured out for us in the Eucharist, so that we can continue to follow Him.
Action - Our faith that is informed by prayer and worship, word and sacrament, is meant to be lived out in action. If we know and accept the love of God in Jesus Christ for us, then we are called to respond with love for the world and for each other. In our second reading (1 Corinthians 9:16-19, 22-23) Paul speaks about having an "obligation" to preach, so strong is the call for him. Jesus heals all those who come to him in the night, driving out demons and bringing people peace. After He prays, the disciples catch up to Him, and He tells them that He must keep moving on to other towns and villages "that I may preach there also. For this purpose I have come." There really is no less urgency for us to proclaim the Good News than it was for Jesus and Paul. How we do that is led by the Holy Spirit, and involves reaching out in various ways to others.
Community - As individual disciples, we each have a vocation by virtue of our baptism - whether we are single or married or ordained or in religious life. As a church, we have a mission together. We share Jesus’ Body and Blood together when we celebrate the Eucharist. We realize that it’s not just about "God and me." It’s also about "God and us," and about "You and me." We need to support each other in the mission.
As a different kind of "super PAC," we are not to only lobby for what we believe is right, we are to listen. We need to listen to the experiences of those whom we’re quick to judge. We need to listen to those who may feel like Job in our first reading (Job 7:1-4, 6-7), and are at the point of despair. As a church, we can be a PAC that makes a different kind of impact, not throwing money into a campaign, but bringing love into a world that desperately needs it.
I welcome any comments or questions. Thanks for your time.
In Christ,
Phil, CP
