[Neh. 8:1-10; i Cor. 12:12-31a; Lk. 4:14-21]
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
If you could be any body part, which one would that be?
A leg perhaps?
An arm?
The brain?
In any case, whichever body part we might like to be, we would end up being incomplete, because we need all the parts to make up the body.
If we would be an eye, how would we hear?
And if we would be an ear, how would we smell?
When Saint Paul wrote to the congregation in Corinth, in Greece, in 53-54 he did so because there were problems in that faith community; different opinions and quarrels were literally breaking up the local church.
Paul confidently tells them off: don’t think you’re more important than others, don’t think for one second you can go and do things on your own, that’s not how it works!
In Baptism we became part of Christ, part of his death and resurrection.
We became part of his Body, the Church, we’re all members of the Church of Christ.
We all became part of each other: as Christian brothers and sisters we form one whole, not just physically in Church on Sunday mornings but also spiritually and even mentally.
“One faith, one Baptism, one God and Father of all.” Paul writes in the letter to the Ephesians (4:5-6).
Last week, the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity was a reminder and a celebration of this fact; the Church is one, and always will be one, even if the outward expressions vary and even if Christians argue, even if they argue over minute details.
Don’t they say that the best fights are within the family?
The Apostle is adamant to his readers: they’re all pieces of the same puzzle. Take away one piece and the picture is incomplete.
God loves and justifies each and every one of us, our relationship with our Saviour is very personal, very individual...but it can never be individualistic!
“Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.” (12:27)
God created you with purpose, God has given you your body and soul, reason and senses.
He richly and daily provides you with all that you need to support this body and life.
He also redeemed and purchased you.
And God has called you and keeps calling you to be part of the Church, and forgives you, just as he forgives all, just as he “gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian Church on earth.” (SC, On the Creed)
So, if someone were to ask you if you’ve accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Saviour, tell them the question should be the other way around, tell them Jesus has accepted us, each personally, and this within the larger whole, his Body, his Church.
This is called grace.
And grace is what Paul was asking of his readers to have for each other.
Don’t forget, he said, you need each other, you’re all connected.
It’s not enough to tell people that God loves them, they need to be told to go out and share that love as well.
That’s why he gives the example of the human body.
Yes, people who are handicapped can obviously still function and go through life on their own terms, but that’s because other members of their bodies learn to pick up for that particular part which is missing or not functioning as it should.
They can function because those around them can offer help when asked.
Many members of the same body, many bodies working alongside each other, graciously supporting each other, striving toward a common good.
And just like in the Church or in our daily lives, humanity needs to be taught, needs to be reminded that many members make up a strong and fruitful whole.
“If all were a single member, where would the body be?
As it is, there are many members, yet one body.” (12:19)
Here, as so often, the Church should be an example to the World.
It’s ok to be proud of your country, your language group, your social class, your sports club, etc… but no group nor association nor nation stands on its own.
So, instead of building walls, should we not be welcoming and open, looking at the bigger picture?
“If you have more than you need, build a longer table not a higher wall.” the wise Facebook quote goes.
Humanity needs that unity which the Church was given by the Creator!
“That they all may be one…” Christ prayed (Jn. 17:21).
According to a lot of observers, it’s the least answered prayer in the New Testament.
Like the body parts in our reading this morning claiming a different status, claiming that because they are different from the rest, they do not belong to the body, we, people have the sinful tendency to set ourselves apart from others, claiming exclusivity, claiming superiority, claiming and claiming and claiming...
It’s the Original Sin of Adam and Eve, who weren’t content with who they were, who wanted to be like God.
People want to be different, better, higher in rank.
That’s why they compare themselves to others and that’s why they judge and dismiss others.
Individual Christians, interest groups, social classes, countries, and so on, they all fall into the same trap.
Saint Paul warns us this morning: careful with your spiritual separatism, careful with your church exclusivity, careful with trying to go about it on your own, that’s a very sad and lonely place to be.
God chose you to fill in a very specific and a very special place, in your life, in the Church, the World, just as he chose everybody else.
All of us together.
And the peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.