One-to-one ministry

Bible verse:
And from that hour the disciple took her into his home. (John 19: 25-27)

Inspiration:
Two people standing beside the cross, their arms out-stretched toward one another – that’s the image that comes to mind when I read Jesus’ words to His mother as she and John stood at the foot of His cross.

“Woman,” Jesus said, “behold, your son;” then, looking to John, “Behold, your mother.”

In one of the last acts of His earthly ministry, Jesus underscored the importance of caring for each other…one-to-one. 

Today’s Gospel passage also brings to mind the logo of Stephen Ministry, which shows two people standing beside the cross their arms out-stretched toward one another and toward Jesus. The symbolism of the logo takes on added meaning when you study it and realize that either figure could be the Stephen Minister. In fact, the figure that is broken could be sharing some part of him self or her self. The figure that is broken could be the one most open to the stirrings of the Holy Spirit. In a true, caring Christian relationship both people minister to each other.

Saint John cared for Mary and Mary cared for Saint John.

Stephen Ministry is the kind of one-to-one ministry that Jesus spoke about on the cross. Since its founding in St. Louis in 1975, it has spread to more than 10,000 congregations from more than 150 Christian denominations. It operates in all 50 states, 10 Canadian provinces, and 21 other countries.

More than a million people have received care from a Stephen Minister in a formal one-to-one Stephen Ministry caring relationship.

And it all began with just two people.

As a Stephen Minister, whenever I made hospital rounds, I always felt blessed to be in the company of the patients. It seemed to me that their hospital rooms were like chapels, but instead of votive candles, there were greeting cards, balloons and flowers that said the patients were deeply loved, cared about and prayed for.

The other day I came across a non-profit web site called CaringBridge, which is dedicated to caring for the sick and dying and their loved ones. It was started by a woman who wanted to help a friend during a difficult pregnancy. The free site helps ease the burden of keeping family and friends informed. Patients and caregivers can post progress reports on the password-protected site and draw strength from loved ones’ messages of support, which are also posted there.

Dialysis patients discover the cathartic power of journaling. Families facing childhood illness draw loved ones closer. Injured veterans are uplifted by online support groups of family and friends.

In the past ten years, the CaringBridge has touched the lives of
    * 70,000 patients
    * 400+ million visits by loved ones
    * 10+ million guest book messages of support

Every single day CaringBridge sends out 250,000 notifications -- letting someone know a CaringBridge site has been updated.

And it all began with just two women.

We never know what impact a simple act of kindness might have on one other person. For example, one of my high school teachers uses the Internet to stay in touch. His e-mails are often humorous and always welcome, uplifting messages. After reading his day brighteners, I pass them on to others and in so doing spread the good news. If ten people receive an uplifting message and each of them forwards it to ten more friends and so on, within four e-mailings 100,000 lives have been touched.

It all begins with one person reaching out to another.

Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.