Responsibility (03/04/2024)

Yesterday, following the final mass of the sabbath at our parish, there were several individuals who gathered for healing prayer. There were those who were asking for prayers and there were those who were offering prayers for others. It was simple. It didn’t last long. It’s been on my mind ever since – our responsibility to pray for others.

As a young person who loved language and writing, it dawned on me one day that “responsibility” was the ability to respond. It changed the way I think about “responsibility.” I went from begrudging the time or energy to looking forward to it most times. I look at it as my way of using what I’ve been given to help another or others. And nowhere do I feel the need to respond more deeply than regarding the needs of others.

I know a woman who keeps a list of individuals she is praying for, a real, written list. I learned something from her; truth is, now I have a list. And I knew a woman who is no longer with us who always spoke, who always asked how I was, and who always suggested we pray about my needs. And I find myself often imitating her when another shares a need with me. I don’t put it off any longer with the hope of “adding it to my list.” I do eventually add it, but this way, the individual knows two things: I heard their need; I cared enough about them and their need to pray. I responded because I could and should.

Years ago, I was taught to always include in my prayers, a petition for “the least, the last, the lost, the lonely, and those who have no one praying for them.” And so, I do. And my prayer has tenderized me so that I notice others more, increasing my desire to pray for others.

I recall the Matthew 8:2, when a leper came to Jesus, knelt before Jesus and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can heal me, and make me clean.”  And I recall that Jesus reached out and touched him saying, “I am willing, be healed.” Jesus had the ability to respond. He used it. Are we being called as followers of Christ to respond to the needs of our sisters and brothers? Are we willing?

Who do we know that needs prayer right now? What is their situation? Are we going to seize our ability to respond to their needs, beginning with bringing them and their needs before the LORD in prayer? Will our ability to respond end there? Or will we find additional ways to respond?

As we continue on our journeys of faith, hope and love, let us open ourselves wholly and fully to the Spirit and seek the guidance and vision of the Spirit as we encounter others along the way. And when we see or sense or hear of their needs, let us bring them to the LORD with faith, with hope, and with love. Let us embrace the reality daily that we all have the ability to respond to the needs of one another and the LORD has made us “responsible” for one another.

Until tomorrow, let us all love well.