APOSTLES WERE TEAM PLAYERS

Jesus, help me remember I'm part of your team, so I need to treat people well! Amen.

Jesus saw how many people needed help following Him, so He got the 12 Apostles together and gave them the power to heal people. "Cure the sick, raise the dead, and don't take money for your help," He told them. Then Simon Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, the other James, Thaddeus, Simon and Judas Iscariot went out to help people learn about God.

Finding a sport that you like is different for every kid. Some kids like sports where everyone gets a turn, like baseball; or sports where everyone has their own space, like swimming. Other kids are into football or soccer, where everyone piles in together.

Jesus would definitely like team sports. In this week's Gospel (Matthew 9:36-10:8), He picks His own team of 12, the Apostles, to teach people -- and He reminds them to play well together!

In almost every sport, kids compete as a team. Even if you're a swimmer and you have your own lane in the pool, you're probably part of a team: Each person swims, one after the other.

Jesus wanted the Apostles to be like that. They went out to other towns, two at a time, to teach people about God; but they were all part of the same big team of Jesus' followers.

For whatever sport you like best, there are always rules. Jesus' rules for the Apostles were not to take advantage of people, just to help them. Jesus especially wanted the 12 to heal sick people, and He knew that sick people can get desperate for help.

In a sport like football or soccer, piling in together can be a good thing. Jesus' lineup was expected to "pile in" to teach as many people as they could, in as many places they could travel to, all about God. That way, more people could join Jesus' team!

(06/12/08)