The Need for Others

In this past week’s Gospel, we are reminded of the need for others.

There was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there.  Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the wedding.  When the wine ran short, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, “Woman, how does your concern affect me?  My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servers, “Do whatever he tells you.”  Now there were six stone water jars there for Jewish ceremonial washings, each holding twenty to thirty gallons.  Jesus told them, “Fill the jars with water.” So they filled them to the brim.  Then he told them, “Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter.” So they took it.  And when the headwaiter tasted the water that had become wine, without knowing where it came from — although the servers who had drawn the water knew —, the headwaiter called the bridegroom and said to him, “Everyone serves good wine first, and then when people have drunk freely, an inferior one; but you have kept the good wine until now.”  Jesus did this as the beginning of his signs at Cana in Galilee and so revealed his glory, and his disciples began to believe in him. Lk 2:1-11

The Need for Others

For the amount of times I have heard and read this particular Gospel, for the first time I am struck by Mary’s role in this event.  Mary simply stated a problem to Jesus, “They have no wine,” without offering any of her solutions or results, rather allowed Christ to do His work, His wants.  What a great insight as to the way we should approach Christ in our prayers.  Secondly, Mary was interceding on behalf of the servers and those at the wedding with Jesus.  At this time, not even His disciples were fully invested, and my assumption is that no one else at the wedding knew of Him, or knew who He was, God Incarnate.  Yet there was Mary, interceding on behalf of all those who could or did not know to ask Christ their wants or needs.  This made me think of the importance of others in every aspect of our lives.

Support in Sports

If I were to think of all of the people that have helped me throughout my sports career, from my childhood to professionally I don’t think I would have enough room to list them, and I would still be leaving some out.  The truth is, I would never have had a chance to live out a childhood dream if it wasn’t for others.  My parents and family, first and foremost, who loved and supported me regardless of results and outcomes, by simply loving me as their son, not an athlete who was their son.  My dad always giving me direction and wisdom in his own way that was never overbearing or out of context or perspective,( i.e. work hard and have fun.)  My mom, doing everything she could to get me, and my two brothers and sisters where we needed to go, on time, fully fed, things where they needed to be, while at the same time constantly giving me a nurturing, loving message.  To the many coaches I have had that gave me a little piece of them that has helped me tremendously on and off the fields.  To all my classmates, teammates, and friends who have supported and challenged me to be the best that I could be.  As I said, the list goes on and on and on.  In a highly competitive sports world, whether it is collegiate or professionally, the importance of recommendations and the need for others to pull for you when no one else will, is absolutely critical.  There is no doubt about it, whether in sports or any other part of our lives, we need others.  Probably most importantly in our spiritual lives and the game for our souls.

Spiritual Teammates

There were times in my sports life when I simply could not get through a game, or practice by myself.  Whether I was emotionally or physically empty, or both, it was usually my teammates or coaches that helped me when I couldn’t help myself.  How often I have felt the same need for others off of the field as well.  People have helped me when I couldn’t help myself.  As I go deeper into my spiritual life, I am just beginning to understand what it means to be baptized into Christ.  The fact that I am baptized into Someone, with others, is a blessing that blows my mind.  The wonder that arises that God would become flesh, die for us, and through this we would be one with Him is something that I hope will continue to go deeper within me with each day.  What I do know, is the importance of others, especially in Christ.

Much like the days on the athletic fields where it took others for me to get through, it reminds me of the days I feel like I can’t approach, face, or swallow Christ.  Whether it is the wounds of my past, the wounds of the present, a death in my family, a tragedy in the world, or simply the “desert times” of my life, there are times when I feel like I am too ashamed, embarrassed, or simply don’t have the strength in my soul to be silent with Christ.  There are times when I need others to do this for me.  There are times when I need others to say what I can’t say.  Do what I can’t do.  Be where I can’t be.  Intercede when I can not face Christ on my own.  These are times of vulnerability and emptiness, yet a time to be open to the dependence on others in Christ.  What a gift.  What a blessing.  One of the most powerful words to hear from others is, “I will pray for you.”

Let us pray for each other today.  Let us pray for those around us who can’t pray for themselves.  And let us remember we are all One on a team that is everlasting, and along with the choir of angels and saints we pray, AMEN !!!!!

“You can also offer your prayers, obedience, and endurance of dryness to Our Lord, for the good of other souls, and then you have practiced intercession. Never mind if it all seems for the time very second-hand. The less you get out of it, the nearer it approaches to being something worth offering; and the humiliation of not being able to feel as devout as we want to be, is excellent for most of us. Use vocal prayer…very slowly, trying to realize the meaning with which it is charged and remember that…you are only a unit in the Chorus of the Church, so that the others will make good the shortcomings you cannot help.” Evelyn Underhill