Friday, November 18, 2022  

Today’s Scripture Reading
Galatians 6:1–10

My friends, if anyone is detected in a transgression, you who have received the Spirit should restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness. Take care that you yourselves are not tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. For if those who are nothing think they are something, they deceive themselves. All must test their own work; then that work, rather than their neighbor’s work, will become a cause for pride. For all must carry their own loads. Those who are taught the word must share in all good things with their teacher. Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for you reap whatever you sow. If you sow to your own flesh, you will reap corruption from the flesh; but if you sow to the Spirit, you will reap eternal life from the Spirit. So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest-time, if we do not give up. So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all, and especially for those of the family of faith. (NRSV)

Reflection

SPOILER ALERT: If you haven’t seen Amazon Prime’s recent series adaptation of the film A League of Their Own and have any intention of watching the series with fresh eyes, you may wish to skip directly to the prayer, as a main plot point will be revealed in this reflection.

In reimagining the cast of characters populating the story of the formation of a World War II-era women’s professional baseball team, the 2022 series introduces us to “Jo,” the star hitter for the protagonist team, the Rockford Peaches, who by the penultimate episode is traded to the team’s chief rivals, the South Bend Blue Sox. The two teams face each other in the championship playoffs, creating a scenario in which Jo must compete head-to-head against her former teammates and dearest friends.

It’s the final game, the last inning, and Jo is at bat. She knocks the ball out of the park and begins to round the bases. She barely makes it to first base when she’s suddenly caught short—her knee buckles, and she suffers a hard tumble to the ground. It appears that she has torn her ACL and is unable to rise to her feet. The umpire informs her that, according to league rules, for her victory over the Peaches to be sustained she must round each base herself and touch the home plate. In a mark of sisterhood, sportsmanship, and love, two of the Rockford Peaches head over to a crumpled Jo, bear her up on each of their shoulders, and begin to guide her around the bases. One-by-one, the members of the Rockford Peaches join them in guiding Jo to home plate, sealing their defeat yet celebrating their solidarity. There wasn’t a dry eye in the stands.

“Bear one another’s burdens” — Paul imagines a self-giving love of this kind as he commends the Galatians to live in Christian community as exemplars of mutual forbearance. The call to “carry one’s own load” is simply to recognize that none of us escapes the brokenness of the human experience that sometimes overwhelms us; yet we need not suffer in isolation and defeat. Though we may stumble, together, we rise.

Prayer

God our Sustainer, may we find confidence in knowing that as we bear one another’s burdens we are led to our greatest strengths through which your grace unfolds. Amen.

Written by Nancy Benson-Nicol, Associate Pastor for Caring Ministries and Spiritual Formation

Reflection and prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church

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