The Sunday Morning Draft (11/17/2025)

Yesterday was Cookie Day at our parish church. We distributed cookies Saturday after church. I’d lined up four other people to help hand them out. But I hadn’t had a chance to line up help for Sunday’s distribution. When I got to church, I knew I needed to draft volunteers to help me distribute cookies after the Mass. It was the highlight of my day because to the person, everyone I asked said “Yes” without hesitation.

First, I asked a woman who was helping with setting up for the Mass. She came back by where I was standing, so I took a chance. She said, “Of course, “without hesitation. Then a young person from the Confirmation class that I teach on Wednesdays came in the door. I stopped her, and asked if she could help me hand out cookies after Mass. The minute I said “cookies” she giggled and told me she would love to hand out cookies. And she texted her mother that she’d need to stay after church for an extra 15 minutes.

I wasn’t able to find a third person before Mass. I was worried about what I would do. But then, as I was walking out ahead of dismissal to get set up for the cookie distribution, I passed a woman at the back of church. I leaned in close and whispered, “Could you help me hand out cookies?” Her face turned up into a grin, she nodded a “Yes” and started picking up her coat and purse to join me.

As we were handing out cookies, I looked around. Every one of the volunteers were into their role of cookie distributors. They were talking with the cookie receivers, they were laughing, they were enjoying their time of service to the community.

What’s my point? I think most people will help if asked. We need to get better at asking, at inviting people specifically. Announcements don’t work; they are too broad. It is easy to assume someone else will do it. It is also easy to assume that someone else would be better at the task. But when we invite specific people, they feel seen, they feel that we have confidence in their ability to help in that moment or task, and they say, “Yes.”

What good is there to accomplish today? Who could we invite to help? Who should we invite to help? Do we see someone who could use some help? Self-draft is a thing. We can enlist ourselves when we see the need.

The LORD created us in relationship. Community is an important element of our faith, of our lives, of our world. As we continue our spiritual journeys this side of the sod, let us be open to the needs of the community and others, let us be open to the invitation to be part of a solution to the challenges of the moment, and let us be aware of others and of their needs and of our ability to help. That’s the way the LORD meant it to be. Don’t you just love it when the LORD’s plan comes together?

Until tomorrow, let us all love well.