How does a Christian relate to, pray for, and work with political leaders? Today’s readings give us some guidance.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus encounters some Jews who plead with him to heal the slave of the local Roman official in their town. They have a good relationship with this centurion. They tell Jesus, “He deserves to have you do this for him, for he loves our nation, and he built the synagogue for us.”
How did this good relationship begin? With the centurion or with the Jews? We don’t know. But apparently the local Jewish leaders were generally of the flexible, open-minded and open-hearted mindset: they are encouraging Jesus to heal—instead of arguing with him about how, when, or where he does it. They are open to him. They have a good enough relationship with the centurion that he would ask a favor through them. And they even accompanied Jesus as he went to the centurion’s house.
In return, the centurion was profoundly respectful of them. He went through the local elders, rather than directly to Jesus. AND he sent word, as they approached his house, “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof.” This was a profound act of religious good manners. If Jesus or the others had entered his house, they would have been ritually unclean and would have needed to purify themselves. He saved them that trouble!
Finally, working from his own sense of ethics and culture, as a military leader, he understood authority. He operated from that authority—though Jesus renamed it faith—and showed profound respect for his own leadership and status, for his Jewish subjects, for Jesus, and for God.
The Gospel’s Advice
From this story I get this advice:
- Be open to have an active, as-friendly-as-possible relationship with political leaders—even if they are political enemies.
- Communicate what you need (the centurion built the temple—someone must have asked him) and be open to requests from the political official (heal my slave).
- Be respectful—and expect respect.
- Be open to trade favors—without compromising virtue.
1 Timothy
Timothy was in Ephesus when St. Paul wrote this letter to him. The Ephesian community had been divided by false teachers. Much of the letter is about how Timothy is to create structures and processes that will heal wounds and set the community on solid foundations.
In light of that “mission,” the opening lines of today’s reading are especially interesting:
First of all, I ask that supplications, prayers,
petitions, and thanksgivings be offered for everyone,
for kings and for all in authority,
that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life
in all devotion and dignity.
This is good and pleasing to God our savior,
who wills everyone to be saved
and to come to knowledge of the truth.
A commentary I read noted that Paul starts “first of all,” not as “step one” on a To Do list, but as “the foundation.” Paul encourages Timothy to pray for political leaders and those in authority—that the community could be a safe place to live and build Christian community.
Normally, this is the kind of advice that I would overlook in Scripture. Well, yes, of course, you pray for civil peace. But it was the last lines of today’s selection that made me see its importance:
It is my wish, then, that in every place the men should pray,
lifting up holy hands, without anger or argument.
Not pray when you agree with a leader or pray that a leader might change his ways.
Just pray, “lifting up holy hands, without anger or argument.”
Just a bit earlier Paul had already said, “This is good and pleasing to God our savior, who wills everyone to be saved and to come to knowledge of the truth.” Everyone? Yes, everyone. Even political or religious enemies.
Gleaned advice?
- Prayer for civil matters is a foundation for living in peace. Real prayer. Serious prayer. Not a passing, “God help us” when we see something on the news, but regular, serious prayer.
- Pray for those in authority—not those of one political party or another. Pray for their good–and the common good.
Citizenship and the Common Good
St. Pope John Paul II requested the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace to collect the social teachings of the Church from many sources and put them into one document. That document is The Compendium of Social Doctrine of the Church. It was published in 2004. A link to it is here.
One of its foundation concepts is the Principle of the Common Good. The Common Good is defined as “the good of all people and of the whole person.” It stems from Church teaching of the dignity, unity, and equality of all people.
The Compendium notes that the political community has a responsibility to foster the common good. (see paragraphs 164-170) We, as citizens, have responsibility to engage with political systems and leaders to foster governing for the common good.
Today in America
Today in America there is great political polarity–in both church and state. It troubles me—and sometimes calls me to get into those “more-heat-than-light” conversations with those who see things differently. An even stronger temptation, however, is to close my eyes and ears and go on about my business, as if the political issues and polarities did not matter.
So today’s readings are welcome to me. They give me guidance. For some time now, the phrase “the common good,” has come to me when I listen to or read news reports. It was good today to look it up and read it.
As I did, it struck me that St. Benedict’s Rule, written in the 6th century, was a way of living based on the concept of the “common good.” Like the implications of today’s readings, the concept of the common good does not do away with hierarchies or authority. It is not a concept of revolution or political agendas. It is a way to respect each other, even live side by side in peace, even though our individual prudence leads us to different, strong, points of view.
I have no political clout, so my practice of prayer for all, respect for all, seeking the good of all is not likely to have any major impact—on anybody but me. But I need that impact–to stay a prayerful, active citizen of both church and state.
The Principle of the Common Good is a principle I can use to resist the temptation to put my head in the sand, as well as the temptation to demonize those with whom I disagree or canonize those who see things my way.
Thoughtful thoughts for a new week.
Prayer:
Lord, help me to seek the Common Good as I wade through news, rhetoric, and conversations. Help me to seek your Truth, your standards, your way, Lord, as I live in polarities of church and state. Help me to judge not, condemn not–for that is not my job. But help me to pray for all, discern with wisdom what is right for me to say and do, and follow the advice of today’s readings to engage with others with respect. Help me to remember what I learned at St. Meinrad: the Holy Spirit works in the push and pull of the two sides.
