The One Missing (02/03/2024)

I looked down and my ring was missing. Where had I lost it? I thought of my activities and my different locations throughout the day. I hurried back into the building and searched the bathroom trash thinking I may have lost it when I was wiping my hands. I checked with the “Lost and Found,” but had no luck there either. I returned to my car, saddened by the loss. I opened the back door to put my things on the back seat, and there it was, on the floor of the back seat. I whispered a huge “Thank You” before heading home.

When we lose something, we search for it. How about when we lose someone? How about the family that always sat behind us in church? How about the student that no longer comes to Faith Formation classes? How about the woman whom we haven’t seen at the parish women’s group for some time?

At times, we fail to welcome those who come into our midst. This is sad and not who we are called to be. Just as sad is when we fail to go find the ones who were in our midst and are missing. Why are they missing? Is there something going on in their lives that we could help them with, that we could and should support them through? Or are they missing because of things we failed to do in the past? Is their absence a sign of hurt that needs to be addressed?

We are the living Body of Christ and, as such, we should be aware when one of us is missing. Our faith journey has never been “all about us.” As a coach once told me, “We’ll never be the team we dream to be unless we act like a team from the beginning.” It is true that we not “done muffins.” Our journey is toward the perfection we will not achieve this side of the sod. But we need to strive for it daily and that includes being Christian, being willing to give ourselves for the love of others because of our love for Christ: “love one another as I have loved you.” Who among us does not know the image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd? Are we being called at this time to go out and find the ones who are missing for love of Christ and love of one another?

As we continue our journeys in faith, fueled by the love of Christ in the Spirit, let us be attentive to not only who journeys with us but who is missing. Let us be willing to go out of our way to find the one missing out of loving concern.

Until tomorrow, let us all love well.

Thoughts? Questions? Requests? – katewiskus@gmail.com