One Body

Brothers and sisters: As a body is one though it has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body, so also Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one Body, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons, and we were all given to drink of one Spirit. Now the body is not a single part, but many.

Now you are Christ's Body, and individually parts of it. Some people God has designated in the Church to be, first, Apostles; second, prophets; third, teachers; then, mighty deeds; then gifts of healing, assistance, administration, and varieties of tongues.

Are all Apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work mighty deeds? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? Strive eagerly for the greatest spiritual gifts. (1 Corinthians 12:12-14, 27-31)

This reading indicates we must understand we all drink of one spirit, although some of us drink of the spirits – the alcoholic kind meaning they have lost sight of the need to be of clear mind and head to make sensible and Christ-like decisions regarding discrimination and intolerance of other cultures, faiths, backgrounds, and place on the so-called social scale be it based on skin color, race, or economic status.  We are all part of Christ’s Body although some of us think we are near his head as opposed to his nether regions.

Let’s all strive eagerly for the greatest spiritual gifts.  Those gifts, if opened, reveal we are all capable of mighty deeds on behalf of Christ.

Deacon David Pierce