I grew up playing competitive team sports and I loved everything about it—the camaraderie, the hard work, the joy, sweat, and tears. I loved being challenged to excellence and working hard with my teammates to achieve our goals. I loved sharing the excitement of a win and picking each other up when we lost.

There are many ways that sports can instruct us in discipleship, but one thing I’ve reflected on recently is the power of encouragement. One of my coaches required (or else we would be running sprints) that we loudly cheer each other on during practices and in games, and there was a good reason for this. Encouragement and affirmation build confidence and unity, whereas self-focused silence can become a space where frustrations and resentment grow and fester among the players causing sickness in the team. When you hear your teammates cheering you on, you know that they’re with you, they believe in your abilities, and the struggle is worth it. Being reminded of these things helps you access an interior strength that you could never possess through will power alone.

This is also true in our lives as disciples. Discipleship is a team sport, and the team thrives when we give and receive authentic blessing, affirmation, and encouragement. We cannot love as Christ loves without first receiving the Father’s blessing, whether through personal prayer, the Sacraments, the Scriptures, or the community around us. Giving and receiving encouragement helps align our minds and hearts with the truth of who we are and what we’re made for and it helps empower us to live the Gospel.

It’s a privilege and joy as disciples to get to cheer each other on in this process of coming to know and live out our identity and mission. So, as it says in Hebrews, “Encourage each other daily while it is still today.” (Heb. 3:13)