Team Effort (09/25/2024)

He needed help with his resume and cover letter. He’s good at what he does, but writing and selling himself isn’t what he does. So, he asked for help from a unique team of people: a resource whiz, a marketing and design expert, and a seasoned manager. Together, they crafted and created, they fine-tuned and amplified. I watched as they labored together to construct what was needed, each appreciating the gifts of the other. And I thought to myself, now that’s how it’s supposed to work.

In our modern world, there is a real push for independence and self-reliance. This approach misses one of the wonderful secrets of harmony, the strength that comes from diverse efforts and gifts combined and unifying. And our world so longs for harmony. Have you noticed?

I think of Paul’s beautiful letter to the Corinthians in which he speaks of the body and its many members with a variety of gifts given by the same Spirit. And Paul tells us “To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.”  It is true that many are capable of much independently, but what if we were willing to put down some of that independence for the good of others, for a greater good, for the common good? What if we worked more often as a team? As Christ’s team?

I’ve been blessed so many, many times to be part of Christ’s team at work in the world whether it was working as a parish on the faith formation or our youth or on providing a funeral luncheon for a parish family. In those instances, I must say I am always amazed at what is possible when we combine our gifts for the common good.

Around us every day are needs. Will we see them and offer our gifts and time to help address them? Will we roll up our sleeves and give of ourselves, working with others for the good of others?

“I’d rather see a sermon that hear one any day.” As I watched that “team” work together, I was struck by what they were accomplishing together but also by their joy in giving what they had been given by the LORD to help another. As I watched, Paul’s words made more sense and carried more of an incentive. Seeing it was more powerful than simply reading about it or hearing about it.

May we all prayerfully discern our gifts and may we joyfully and generously offer them for the building up of the body of Christ. As Paul says, “living the truth in love, we should grow in every way into Him who is the head, Christ, from whom the whole body joined and held together by every supporting ligament, with the proper functioning of each part, brings about the body’s growth and builds itself up in love.” Now that I would sign up for.

Until tomorrow, let us all love well.