Opening Game
Begin by playing the Walk the Plank game. In this activity, the group must work together to move from one spot to another. For detailed instructions, refer to Walk the Plank Team Building Game.
After the game, discuss these questions:
- Could you have completed this task alone?
- What would happen if someone on the team was more focused on being the first to reach the other side?
- In this game, which was more important—cooperation or competition?
Scripture Reading
Read the Gospel:
Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48 (The apostles see someone from outside their group driving out demons) – the Gospel Reading for the 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year B
At that time, John said to Jesus, “Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us.”
Jesus replied, “Do not prevent him. There is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name who can at the same time speak ill of me. For whoever is not against us is for us. Anyone who gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ, amen, I say to you, will surely not lose his reward.
“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were put around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed than with two hands to go into Gehenna, into the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut if off. It is better for you to enter into life crippled than with two feet to be thrown into Gehenna. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. Better for you to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into Gehenna, where ‘their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.’”Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48
Discussion
We live in a world that values competition. Think about how much emphasis we place on winning in sports. Whether it’s cheering for our school team, supporting our city in major league sports, or rooting for our country in the Olympics, we love to see our side come out on top. We feel pride and excitement when our team wins, and sometimes we might even feel a bit disappointed or frustrated when they lose.
This competitive attitude isn’t just limited to sports. It can spill over into other areas of our lives, too. We might find ourselves competing with others at school, at work, or even in our personal lives, trying to be the best, to stand out, or to gain recognition. While competition can push us to work harder and achieve more, it can also create divisions and lead us to focus too much on our own success.
But when it comes to our spiritual life, a team attitude can sometimes be more of a distraction than a help. In today’s Gospel, we see an example of this. Some of the apostles are concerned because they see someone who isn’t part of their group driving out demons in the name of Jesus. They try to stop him because he’s not “one of them.” But Jesus has a different perspective. He isn’t worried that this person isn’t part of their team. Instead, Jesus recognizes that this person is doing good work for the Kingdom of God, and that’s what matters most.
Jesus’ response is a powerful reminder that the work of God’s Kingdom isn’t limited to just one group or one way of doing things. He says, “Whoever is not against us is for us” (Mark 9:40). This means that anyone who is working to bring about God’s will, even if they aren’t part of our specific group, is on the same team. Jesus is teaching us that the Kingdom of God is bigger than any one ministry, group, or person. It’s about all of us working together, in different ways, to share God’s love and make the world a better place.
Sometimes, without even realizing it, we can fall into the trap of setting up divisions within our faith community. It can happen when different ministries or groups within a parish start to see each other as competition rather than as partners. For example, two youth groups might both be doing great work, but if they start competing for members, resources, or attention, they can lose sight of their shared mission. Instead of working together, they might focus too much on outdoing each other.
This kind of competition can be harmful. It can create a sense of rivalry and division, rather than unity and cooperation. When we’re so focused on making our own group the best, we might forget that the other groups are also doing important work. We might even start to see their success as a threat to our own, rather than something to celebrate. This attitude can prevent us from fully supporting each other and working together for the good of the whole community.
It’s natural to want our group to grow and be valued within our parish community. We all want to feel like we’re making a difference and that our efforts are appreciated. But we need to be careful that our desire for success doesn’t lead us to overlook the good work that others are doing. We should always remember that we’re all part of the same team—Team Jesus.
Being part of Team Jesus means that we’re all working toward the same goal: bringing people closer to God and building His Kingdom on earth. It means that we support and encourage each other, even if we’re involved in different ministries or activities. It means that we celebrate each other’s successes, knowing that when one part of the Body of Christ thrives, the whole Body is stronger.
So, what does this look like in practice? It means being intentional about reaching out to other groups within your parish or community. It means collaborating on projects, sharing resources, and finding ways to support each other’s efforts. It means praying for other ministries and celebrating their successes, knowing that we’re all working together for the greater good.
In the end, we need to remember that the Kingdom of God is about unity, not division. It’s about working together, not competing against each other. When we support and encourage all of Team Jesus, we can accomplish so much more than we ever could on our own. Let’s focus on building each other up, working together, and making sure that everything we do is for the glory of God and the good of His Kingdom.
Small Group Reflection Questions
Divide the youth into small groups to discuss further. This gives them a chance to listen to each other, share their own thoughts, and grow together as a community. Small group discussions allow everyone to participate and help us see things from different perspectives. It’s important to be open and respectful, listening carefully to what others have to say.
Here are some questions to guide your small group discussion:
- How can we ensure that all members of our community feel valued and included? Talk about ways to reach out to those who might feel left out or overlooked in your parish or group.
- What does it mean to you to be part of “Team Jesus”? Think about how you contribute to the Church and how others around you do the same. How does it feel to know you are working together with others for the same goal?
- Have you ever felt like you were in competition with others in your faith community? Share an experience where you felt this way. How did it affect your relationship with them and your overall faith journey?
- How do you think Jesus wants us to handle differences or disagreements within our faith community? Consider what steps we can take to ensure we stay united, even when we don’t always agree.
- In what ways can we better support each other’s ministries or efforts in the Church? Discuss practical actions you can take to encourage and uplift other groups or individuals in your parish.
- Why do you think Jesus emphasized the importance of unity in today’s Gospel? Reflect on how this teaching can be applied in our daily lives and within our own parish or community.
- How can we avoid letting pride or competition distract us from our true mission as Christians? Consider what attitudes or behaviors need to change in order to focus more on working together.
- What are some specific ways we can work together to build God’s Kingdom in our community? Think about projects or initiatives where collaboration could make a bigger impact.
- How does supporting others in their ministry help us grow in our own faith? Discuss how being part of a united community can strengthen your personal relationship with God.
- What is one thing you can do this week to foster unity in your parish or group? Commit to a specific action that promotes working together and share it with the group.
Challenge
This week, I challenge you to choose a parish ministry that you are not currently involved in and dedicate time to pray specifically for that group. Pray that their work may be fruitful, that they may feel supported by the larger parish community, and that their efforts may bring others closer to God. Take a moment to reflect on the importance of their work, even if it’s different from what you usually participate in. Your prayers can be a powerful way to show your support and to help build unity within the parish.
If you are able, go beyond prayer and take a concrete action to support that ministry. This could be as simple as offering words of encouragement to someone involved in the ministry, volunteering for a project they are working on, or donating resources they might need. Even small gestures of support can make a big difference. By actively supporting another ministry, you are helping to strengthen the bonds within your faith community and showing that we are all working together as part of Team Jesus. Your involvement, even in small ways, can help foster a spirit of cooperation and unity in the Church.
Prayer
As we conclude our time together, let’s take a moment to reflect on what we’ve discussed. We’ve talked about the importance of unity and working together within our faith community, and how each of us can play a role in supporting one another. It’s essential that we keep a spirit of humility in our hearts as we strive to work together as part of Team Jesus. Humility allows us to focus on the good of the whole community rather than on our own success or recognition.
To help us cultivate this humility, let’s close by praying the Litany of Humility. This beautiful prayer reminds us to put others before ourselves and to trust in God’s plan for our lives. It asks for the grace to be free from pride and selfishness, so that we can truly serve others with a generous heart.
You can find a printable version of the Litany of Humility here.
More Resources
More Youth Ministry Lesson Plans and Reflections
For more information, see https://young-catholics.com/11702/working-together-lesson-plan/