The Stick

Nike2x: I am looking for someone who is very strong to help me this morning. Who would like to help?

One kid volunteers.

You look pretty strong to me. Do you think you can break this stick?

Nike2x gave the child one small stick that can easily be broken.

Wow! You are strong! You easily broke that stick.

Let's see if you can break these sticks.

Nike gave the child a bundle of sticks that are bound together. After giving the child time to try to break the bundle of sticks he said...

“The sticks in this bundle are just like the stick that was so easily broken. Yet when they are bound together, they are much stronger than they are when they are by themselves. Even the very strongest person here this morning could not break this bundle of sticks.”

These sticks can teach us an important lesson about the church. Sometimes when we think of the church, we think of a building where we come to worship, but the church isn't a building. The church is made up of men, women, boys, and girls who have chosen to follow Jesus. You, me, all of the people here today -- all of us together -- we are the church.

Some people say, "I can be a Catholic without going to church" -- and that may be true -- but by ourselves we are not very strong. When Satan tries to tempt us to do something that we know is wrong, it may be difficult to resist him if we try to go it alone. But if we stand together with others who follow Jesus, they will be a source of strength and encouragement. We will be much stronger than we would be by ourselves.

One day, Jesus went off by himself to pray. He prayed for his disciples because he knew that his disciples had to live in the world and that they would be tempted by the evil things of the world. He also knew that if his disciples would come together as one, they would be much stronger than they would as individuals. So he prayed and asked God to protect them and to help them to be one, just as he and his Father were one.

When Satan tempts you to do things that you know are wrong, remember the lesson of the sticks -- there is strength in unity.