We are one body, one spirit in Jesus our Redeemer
Reflections on the readings for the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time (January 27, 2019): NEH 8:2-4,5-6,8-10; PS 19:8,9,10,15; 1COR 12:12-30; LK 1:1-4; 4:14-21
MISSIO offers “Mission In Scripture” to nurture a missionary heart, providing reflections on the missionary themes in the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days.
St. Paul found that the Christians in Corinth had a problem with factions who saw certain qualities as superior to others.
He wanted them to appreciate their diversity as individuals and their God-given talents and abilities. But he also wanted them to understand the necessity for unity in the Spirit of God. So he wrote about the Body of Christ and of believers as members of that Body – the Church. “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” (1 Corinthians 12:12-13).
Not only must we value the role we play within the Church, but we must also acknowledge our brothers and sisters as equally vital to the life of the community. If one suffers, we all suffer. If one is honored, we all rejoice. Two thousand years later, we still have difficulties with the personal pride, misguided attitudes and lack of charity that cause us to make the same errors. We have to remind ourselves that, “in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body.” We have to recognize that just as we need our Lord, we also need each other. He designed us that way. We are unique persons joined in one faith with Christ our Savior. That is something to celebrate.
Suggested missionary action: We can make a positive effort to be more active in our own church community. This could include joining a parish organization or participating in special events.