WHAT IS PALANCA?
PALANCA [pah lahnk ah] is a Spanish word meaning lever. In the Via de Cristo, it means an outward expression of agape love through prayer and sacrifice which is offered to God in petition for grace. This is so that, as apostles, we may accomplish more than we would otherwise be capable of.
We are told, in the New Testament, that “the prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective”(James 5:16). To be a righteous person is to obey God, who in his earthly form commanded us to love and pray for each other.
Palanca is the actual taking time out at times that may be entirely “inconventient” to pray for all who are attending the weekend. Palanca is not even intended to be directed at individuals. Palanca is meant for the entire weekend community.
Prayer is the power behind palanca, the lever. Palanca is prayer. Palanca is not something written on a piece of paper. Palanca is not a trinket or knick-knack or any other item no matter how lovingly made. Palanca is prayer.
LOVE IS THE GIFT
Prayer is the power behind Palanca, the lever. Palanca is not something written on a piece of paper. Palanca is not a trinket or knick-knack or any other item no matter how lovingly made. Palanca is prayer.
What Makes Anything Palanca?
Mark Carnes, our National Palanca Chairperson, puts it this way—“Palanca is sacrificial. In some small way it demonstrates the sacrifice that Christ made for each of us as He gave His life that we might be saved. If your Palanca is not sacrificial, it is not palanca. It may be a wonderful gift and very inspirational, but if it did not require sacrifice, it is not palanca.” Is prayer palanca? Prayer is sacrificial and is palanca. It takes your time and energy in an important and beneficial way. It takes real and conscious effort to pray for the candidates on the weekend and thus prayer is palanca. In fact, it is the most meaningful form of palanca. We are told in the New Testament that “the prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective.” (James 5:16b) God has commanded us to love and pray for each other. The love of Jesus compels us to love and pray for each other. Did you and your reunion group remember to pray for the weekends taking place throughout the world
Please make prayer Palanca a priority in your life.