Sunday, January 23rd 2022 | By Rev. Michael P. Hanifin
Saint Paul’s letter to the Corinthians states, “If they were all one part, where would the body be? But as it is there are many parts, yet one body” (1 Corinthians 12:18-20).
What does this teach us as disciples and followers of our Lord Jesus Christ? It shows us that we all have equal dignity and worth in God’s sight, and that if God sees us as equally precious, we should view each other in this same light. It teaches us to humbly recognize our own gifts as well as the giftedness of every member of our Saint Joachim parish family. And, while God designed us to be ultimately dependent on Him, it seems He has also designed us to need one another! We are a community and a family.
This is part of the beauty and richness of the Christian way of life. No one person can “do it all” in life — whether in family life or parish life. But God does not ask us to do it all. He simply asks us to share the gifts and talents we do have in the season of life we find ourselves right now. It might feel uncomfortable at first. But the good news it you don’t have to do it all.
The issue of sharing our time and talent in volunteering at Saint Joachim parish has been a topic of conversation among the parish staff. Covid 19 has decimated our small pool of Liturgical Ministers and helpers. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic we lost Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers of Holy Communion at Mass, Altar Servers at the English Masses, Ushers, and Hospitality Ministers (Donuts, Juice, and Coffee) at the 10:00 AM Mass. Many homebound parishioners have asked to have someone bring Holy Communion to their home. Sadly, we must turn their request down due to an insufficient number of Eucharistic Ministers. As you can see, WE NEED HELP!
Saint Paul tells us in the second reading this Sunday, “As a body is one though it has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body, so also Christ” (1 Corinthians 12:12). I invite us all to do our part and let our brothers and sisters in the Body of Christ do theirs and know that the Spirit of the Lord will be upon all Saint Joachim parish family members.