1 Corinthians 12:12-31a
One Body with Many Members
For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.
Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot were to say, ‘Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body’, that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear were to say, ‘Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body’, that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many members, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I have no need of you’, nor again the head to the feet, ‘I have no need of you.’ On the contrary, the members of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and those members of the body that we think less honourable we clothe with greater honour, and our less respectable members are treated with greater respect; whereas our more respectable members do not need this. But God has so arranged the body, giving the greater honour to the inferior member, that there may be no dissension within the body, but the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honoured, all rejoice together with it.
Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers; then deeds of power, then gifts of healing, forms of assistance, forms of leadership, various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? But strive for the greater gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.
Reflection
Boy, if that ain't the truth! I have Crohns disease. When my bowels suffer my whole body suffers. I'm off this day because of this and my whole body is suffering. There are ways to endure with doctors and medication, but I need the help of all to make it through. So you learn that as one body, you can't do this thing on your own. I not only need the help of the rest of the parts of my body but I need help from outside of my body also.
It's sort of like this passage says, each one of us is a unique loved Child of God. We each have a relationship with Jesus and walk and follow him. Yet at the same time each one of us has a relationship with one another. As a Church we look to one another to exist together. God desires for us to live together. So we live together not all being the same. Rather we live together being very different from one another. What is the same, is the Spirit of God that is in each one of us gathering us together as God's Church to live and heal together. When one of us hurts the rest of us come to that one to comfort, love and sustain that one. And when that one is through the rough times, we all celebrate in love for one and for all.
"Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it."
Prayer
Holy Spirit, we need you. We need you both as individuals and we need you corporately. Jesus, you have shown your love for us and how to love each other. Father, you gave your Son to die for our sins. As we live one alone, may we live One together in the grace you give... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen
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