You Are Needed

A Reflection on the Second Reading for January 27th, 2019:
​Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

1 Corinthians 12

12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body -- Jews or Greeks, slaves or free -- and all were made to drink of one Spirit. 14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many. 15 If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? 18 But as it is, God arranged the organs in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19 If all were a single organ, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. 21 The eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you," nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." 22 On the contrary, the parts of the body which seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and those parts of the body which we think less honorable we invest with the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, 24 which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving the greater honor to the inferior part, 25 that there may be no discord in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. 27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. 28 And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, then healers, helpers, administrators, speakers in various kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?

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Community is the glue that holds any sort of society together. We need others. We need everyone’s individual and unique gifts for the purpose of functioning as a complete unit. We need each other for support and love. We need to help others. People are important and everyone matters.

In the human body, every large organ, every metabolic process, and the tiniest of proteins are important in the function of a healthy and productive body. Like the human body, communities rely on all of their parts to be happy, healthy, and productive. Each member is equally as important in the community functioning as a whole. Although some roles may seem smaller than others, every person and every role is needed. You are needed.

At times, it can be easy to convince yourself that you are not making a great enough difference. It can be easy to stop putting the effort in because you believe that no one will notice if you are not around or that your part is not great enough to really contribute to the group. I have been in positions where I feel as though I am not making a difference and consequently feel bad about myself and believe that I am not “good enough”. But the fruits of your labour are seen by the loving eyes of God who is delighted by your service to those in your community. He rejoices over the large and the small acts, whether you can see their fruit or not. It is not up to us to judge the magnitude of our contributions — that is far too much pressure to take on — they only need to be pure of heart and to the best of our ability. Jesus simply wants us to work together, serve each other, and love one another.

"Jesus simply wants us to work together, serve each other, and love one another." 

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Community has always been a large, crucial part of my faith life. I truly believe that if I had not met the friends I have, who share my faith, I would not be a Catholic today. When I attended my first Steubenville conference, it was also the first time I had ever experienced such a large faith community of people my age. I was amazed, but mostly confused, about why there were so many youth giving up their weekend willingly while I was simply going to please my family and get my Steubenville experience “over with”. I now know that it was because they had a longing to experience the unconditional love of God, which I had the blessing of encountering that weekend. From that experience, I gained a better understanding of what God’s love is and how that love can be encountered through others. I would not have been at that conference if it weren’t for the amazing friends I had met through youth group and my new faith community at the time. 

I am immensely thankful for my church family. Each of them are beautifully unique, serving God’s purpose in the best and most needed ways. Through them I experience respect, patience, understanding, encouragement, and above all — Love. ​

​Megan Noye

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