"For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”
We are better together.
Made in the image and likeness of a Triune God, Who Himself exists within a relationship of love, we are made to be in loving relationship with others.
We come into this world only through another person. Literally. We would not exist if it weren't for others.
God, in His infinite wisdom, also created humans in such a way, that unlike other animals we require support, nurturing, protection, and formation from other humans in order to both survive and thrive.
We are made for relationships and we are better together.
We are who we are as individuals, only through the context of others. We learn through, with, and because of others. We learn through modeling and imitation. Knowledge is mostly the product of others. Whereas we could come to discover theories and truths through experience and experimentation, most of what we know is produced and brought to us by someone else.
Our ongoing survival and thrivival depends upon others. Some people might live on self-sustaining farms; the rest of us depend on farmers, truck drivers, and grocery stores to eat. Electricity, water, gas, clothing, internet, devices, emergency services, roads, trash removal - we cannot thrive, let alone survive, without others.
We are better together.
At a time when our country and world seems more divided than ever, it would benefit all of us to strive for unification. It would benefit all of us to consider how we might be able to sacrifice some of our own personal agendas so as to benefit others.
Driving the speed limit and obeying traffic laws can keep myself and others - even those outside of my car - safe. Returning carts to either stores or cart holders can help keep prices down and make a workers' job just a bit easier. Paying taxes, voting, donating to charity, performing service are all ways to benefit the greater good including and over and above yourself.
Maybe even wearing a mask, maintaining distance, and washing your hands, even if we find these things inconvenient.
Within schools arriving to our duties on time can uphold the breaks and schedules of others. Walking quietly and in an orderly fashion (i.e. straight lines) can maintain academic atmospheres across the campus. A uniform helps to unify. Proper behavior can do more than just help an individual find success.
At an even higher level, we can only accomplish our mission within Catholic schools through communion with others.
St. Pope John Paul II wrote:
Communion and mission are profoundly connected with each other, they interpenetrate and mutually imply each other, to the point that communion represents both the source and the fruit of mission: communion gives rise to mission and mission is accomplished in communion. (1988, para. 32)
Consider how Christ's ministry - even most of the miracles he performed including turning water into wine, feeding 5,000, and raising Lazarus - depended upon others.
Through His Incarnation Christ sought communion with us to participate in His mission. He invites us into His salvific mission to advance His Kingdom in heaven and establish it here on earth.
On earth as it is in heaven.
Together with each other and our Father.
We are better together.
Citations:
St. John Paul II. (1988, December 30). Christifideles laici [Apostolic Exhortation]. Retrieved from: https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/apost_exhortations/documents/hf_jp-ii_exh_30121988_christifideles-laici.html
