Resilience and Faith — Your Weekly Reflection from CMMB
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Today’s reading is from Matthew’s Gospel and marks our return to the liturgical season of Ordinary Time.
In the chapters leading up to our reading, the resurrected Jesus has presented himself to Mary Magdalene and the other Mary. He leaves them with a message for his disciples, who are to reunite with him in Galilee. It’s here where today’s passage begins.
As directed, Jesus’ disciples arrive at the mountaintop in Galilee. With both joy and doubt, they worship the Jesus before them. What Jesus tasks his disciples with next has become a fundamental part of Catholic life.
Jesus commissions his disciples to go out into the world to baptize and teach. But perhaps the most significant part of our reading is Jesus’ directive to baptize in the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit.
This section of Mathew’s Gospel is often referred to as the final commission.
When we read this passage, we are invited to reflect on our relationship with the Lord, his presence as the Holy Trinity, and our own efforts share his presence with others.
How we follow this calling today matters. At CMMB, we spread the word of Jesus by striving to achieve a better world, where basic resources like food, water, and health care are accessible to all.
But to continue doing that requires solutions that not only address these root inequalities, but also, the underlying challenges that perpetuate them—both new and old.
The COVID-19 crisis has resulted in many new challenges. But a critical one, identified early on by CMMB, is the mental health toll on healthcare workers. If healthcare workers are able to care for others, they first must be able to care for themselves.
Identifying this reality M. Therese Lysaught, a theologian and ethicist professor at the Stritch School of Medicine at Loyola University Chicago, has worked with CMMB to develop the vital Building Resilience Program. Through this program, we’re developing resources and training programs to address the mental health toll on healthcare workers and their communities, as a result of COVID-19.
We will conclude today’s reflection with the words of Mary Beth Powers, CMMB President and CEO. Included in a piece originally published in the United States Catholic Mission Association April 2021 newsletter, Mary Beth explains the importance of the program and its relationship to our faith.
“A key piece of this has been to say, you have permission to take care of yourselves. You are a priority, and this is going to make you a more effective care provider. It is our Christian duty to care for those who are giving care and to lift them up in their times of stress, exhaustion and suffering.”
If you’re interested in learning more about our Building Resilience Program, you can read the full article by clicking HERE.
In grace and peace,
CMMB