Follow Me

Follow Me

Saturday of the First Week in Ordinary Time

Piety

Jesus went out along the sea. All the crowd came to him, and he taught them. As he passed by, he saw Levi, son of Alphaeus, sitting at the customs post. Jesus said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed Jesus. Mark 2:13-14

Study

There are four stages to group development according to a concept first proposed in 1965 by Bruce Tuckman.  He said that the four phases are all necessary and inevitable for a team to grow, face up to challenges, tackle problems, find solutions, plan work, and deliver results.

The stages are forming–storming–norming–performing.  At this stage in Mark’s Gospel, Jesus is still in the formation phase.  Jesus did not need some social construct to know that success doesn't magically happen. While it is tempting to try to take shortcuts, teams must face the conflicts and obstacles that arise as they develop and cohere.

As Jesus calls Levi/Matthew today, the emerging team faces one of its first challenges: the skeptical critics wondering why Christ sits down and eats with sinners. This band of disciples is not in the welcoming-everybody-play-nice-stage for long. A critical step in team-formation occurs when Jesus reveals one of the basic principals of his ministry: “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.” (Matthew2:17)   

Action

There is hope for all of us sinners.  Just as Jesus calls Matthew, he calls us.

Two teams are forming right now.  The Women’s 154^th Cursillo sinners are starting preparation for a weekend experience from March 19-22 at San Damiano under the guidance of Kat Sigler, although not a daughter of Alpheus or a tax collector, she is the Rectora.  Consult http://arlingtoncursillo.org/154th-womens-weekend/ for instructions on sending Palanca to the team.  They know that Jesus will take them as they are. However, let us prayer that St. Joseph the Worker will be at their side as they craft their weekend and talks. Nosotros Oramos!  

(Also, keep the Men’s 140^th Weekend team formation in your prayers.  That weekend is May 28-31, also at San Damiano.  Those sinners are still fishing and collecting taxes.  Watch the Cursillo website or this space for more information.)