The Communal Journey

Written by Brendan Dailey on Friday of the Second Week of Lent

I don’t like feeling alone.

I imagine few people do, but for me it’s one of the bigger things I strive to overcome. I get a lot of energy from being around others, so times that I find myself alone can be unsettling. You see, I’ve been single for quite some time now, and I go through waves with that experience. At times, I am drawn closer to God, friends, and family, and know that despite being single, I’m never truly alone. Other times, I feel an emptiness and a sadness that accompany my situation. In these times, I tend to take it upon myself to fix my problem, and begin to focus more inwardly. What am I doing wrong? What can I do to change my situation? Foolishly, I strive to conquer my loneliness… alone.

In this Lenten ‘desert’ we journey through to Easter, I am working to turn my focus back toward the Lord, building my relationship with Him, and back outward to those around me. By focusing inwardly on myself, I miss out on the opportunities I am given to lean on those God has placed in my life, and alternatively, I miss out on the opportunities I am given to be there for someone else. While our journeys through the desert are often ones of individual growth, it doesn’t mean that we must journey alone. Rather, we are called in this time to be aware of our presence in one another’s lives, and are called to be a blessing to each other.

Today’s readings illustrate this quite well. In Genesis, we read about Joseph, and the great love his father had for him. This love made Joseph’s brothers extremely jealous, to the point they plotted to kill him. Joseph was a blessed and gifted man. Instead of recognizing that his gifts differed from their own, and seeking to learn and understand from their young brother, they grew selfish, jealous, and hateful. In the Gospel, Jesus uses a parable to show the Chief Priests and Elders of the people the errors of their ways. God had sent the Jewish people prophet after prophet, servant after servant, to tell them of the Lord’s grace and mercy, and they continued to turn away. Now, God has sent his own Son to them, and instead of recognizing this great blessing to the people, they reject and kill him. Out of pride, out of greed, and out of fear.

As this Lent continues, I challenge you and myself to embrace the communal aspect of our journey, acknowledging the times when we need to be carried, and recognizing when we are being called to carry others.

Questions for Reflection:
When do I push others away instead of accepting their help, out of jealousy, hatred, or fear of being vulnerable?
When am I in a position to help others, but am too focused on myself to notice?

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Brendan Dailey:
Brendan is an alumni of the University of Michigan and currently works for the University as an IT professional. He is a member of the Graduate Student and Young Professional lead team, and frequents the 12 pm Mass at St. Mary’s.
Email: bdailey@umich.edu