Christian Healthcare

My husband and I just finished the third season of Walking Dead on Netflix.

I really enjoy this show despite the fact that I hate zombies and avoid horror movies like the plague. I like this show for a few reasons...

1) The struggle of humanity between good vs. evil - not just zombies - but self-interest. The characters have to make life or death choices.. to help one another or sacrifice one another for the sake of survival. It's intense!

2) They learn to take care of themselves and each other. If all of a sudden my electricity was off, no running water, no grocery stores, no hospitals or doctor's offices, and no other modern conveniences I currently enjoy, I'm not sure if I would have what it takes to survive.

3) The show makes you root for the good! You WANT the characters to make the right choices, the moral choices, but you can understand how jaded this experience has made them, how traumatized.

This brings me to our healthcare disaster.

I am terrified of the healthcare expenses we now face. I know people who have had insane raises in deductibles, copays, had their plans totally canceled, or have reduced coverage on very necessary procedures.

We are heading in a direction, funneling citizens to become more dependent upon the government. When we look to government to take care of us, we are sorely disappointed: See, Hurricane Katrina, Benghazi, Department of Motor Vehicles...

"Render unto Caesar what is Caesar's"

This idea of dependency on government isn't new. All over the world governments position themselves as the provider. They set the taxes, control the food distribution, control how people earn their living, regulate utilities, control the military, monitor education. For better or for worse, this is the reality. Even in Scripture, in the Old Testament, we see how Joseph's brothers ran out of food in the midst of famine and went to beg for food from the Pharaoh. In the New Testament, Jesus was even questioned about His loyalty to Caesar and obedience to the law.

Because we have become so utterly dependent upon government in almost every aspect of our lives, our worldview has in some ways become helpless and hopeless. We can feel there are only two options: 1) civil disobedience or 2) surrender to the policies that harm us and our family.

Although there may be no getting around option 1 or 2, I propose a different option.

The second reading for this Sunday comes from the second letter of St. Paul to Timothy. It says "For God did not give you a spirit of cowardice, but rather of power and love and self-control....bear your share of hardship for the Gospel with the strength that comes from God."

It is so easy to be afraid - especially when it comes to changes made to the health care we may receive or the amount of money we will be out or any number of things that could go on in the world from wars to raising debt ceilings, religious persecution to terrorist threat. But God did not give us a spirit of cowardice! We are bold in the Lord who gives us power, love, and self-control- not just one of these things, but ALL of these things along with the strength to endure whatever hardships come our way. However, St. Paul says to endure our hardship for the GOSPEL. Not for our government.

So, here's the third option.

What if we cared for one another?

What if we are doctors who assist in time of need a family that is in financial difficulty? What if we are able to give just a little more to charity or to someone in need? What if we are accountants who set aside time to help an elderly person get their finances in order? What if we are teachers who share our knowledge with students who just aren't getting it in the classroom, or adults who need extra help in literacy? What if we are physically capable of helping someone fix up or clean their house or fix their car? What if we cook a decent meal for the homeless and better yet, dined with them?

What if we did all of these things, discerning not that we should receive payment, but grace.

I'm not saying we should do away with the monetary system, don't get me wrong. I'm not saying this in the extreme of any right or left agenda. I am saying this with the utmost Catholic, Gospel values that Pope Francis is reminding us of - we have been distracted by the hot button moral issues. Now we are distracted by the political in-fighting, corruption, and name-calling.

What if we try our best to go out of our way to see the person who needs our gifts and talents, and their situation, and trust that God will provide for our own situation?

I need to do this, too, in my own life.

But wouldn't that render government policies regarding some of these healthcare issues, useless?

We, as Church, need to step it up. Government is now the provider for our"poor, huddled masses" but that is also because we, as Church, have failed to act on our Gospel calling to care for one another. Now we are upset with how they are taking over, but what could we really expect after we have dropped the ball?

I realize how lofty in theory this is and how Utopian it may seem to care for one another so God is provider, not government, but it is all throughout the Gospel -- Jesus instructs all of us to care for our brethren. He doesn't just go to the government leaders and tell them to send money to the poor. Why would He? Sure, they may eat then, but would they experience Christ in the form of a mailed check? No. We experience Christ in our times of need through one another and the provision He sends to us through one another.

So...

I have a lot more to pray about and think about in my own life about how I can better care for those around me in a sacrificial way. I challenge you too, to see how your work can be also your ministry. Pray about how your gifts and talents can be put to use for those in spiritual, physical, financial, mental, or emotional need.

I am thankful for the many blessings we have and I pray our ridiculous government policies can be voided out by our passionate Gospel living.