One Body

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) 

The Holy Spirit is the source of the gifts. While there are diversities of gifts, they all come from the same Spirit. Despite our diversity, we are all members form one body in Christ. Just as a body has many parts, each of us has his own function, each with his own gifts. Each spiritual gift is given for the common good. If a gift cannot be shared, and shared for the good of others, it is not from the Spirit. We should acknowledge the spiritual gifts that God has blessed us with and put them to work. Whatever talents and abilities God has blessed us with, they should be used to glorify God and serve others.

In the realm of the divine, where gifts take flight,

The Holy Spirit is the source, the beacon of light.

Diverse are the gifts, yet from the Spirit they flow,

Uniting us in purpose, in love's gentle glow.

We are many, yet one, in Christ we unite,

Just as a body, in its strength and might.

Each part unique, each gift bestowed,

In harmony, we carry life's load.

Gifts are given, not for one, but all,

For the common good, they heed the call.

If a gift can't be shared, for others' gain,

It's not of the Spirit, but of worldly chain.

Acknowledge your gifts, let them unfurl,

In God's grand design, let them twirl.

Whatever talents you hold, whatever skills you've got,

Use them to glorify God, let love be your thought.

Dear Heavenly Father, 

We acknowledge that You are the source of all gifts, Your Holy Spirit, our spirits, it uplifts. Though diverse are the gifts, from the same Spirit they flow, uniting us as one body, in Your love we grow. Each of us, a part of Your body, each with a role, each with a gift, each with a soul. These gifts are given for the common good, to be shared, to be understood.

If a gift cannot be shared, if it's not for others' gain, we know it's not of Your Spirit, but of worldly chain. Help us acknowledge the gifts You've bestowed, and put them to work, in Your love, let them be sowed. The talents and abilities You've blessed us with, May they be used to glorify You, to create a myth. Help us serve others, in Your name, In the book of life, let us claim.

In Jesus' name, we pray, Amen.

Pericope:

C. Spiritual Gifts

UNITY AND VARIETY

1 Corinthians 12:1-11

Second Reading | 1 Corinthians 12:3-7, 12-13 (or Galatians 5:16-25)

3 Brothers and sisters: No one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit. 4 There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; 5 there are different forms of service but the same Lord; 6 there are different workings but the same God who produces all of them in everyone. 7 To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit. 12 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. 13 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.  

Background:

1 Corinthians 12:3-7, 12-13 is part of a larger discourse by the Apostle Paul on spiritual gifts in the Christian community. Here’s some background information:

Author and Audience: The letter was written by the Apostle Paul to the church in Corinth, a city in Greece. The church was established by Paul during his second missionary journey.

Context: The Corinthian church was experiencing divisions and disagreements over various issues, including the use and importance of spiritual gifts. Some members were priding themselves on their particular gifts and dismissing the gifts of others.

Spiritual Gifts: In this chapter, Paul discusses the diversity and unity of spiritual gifts. He emphasizes that all gifts come from the same Spirit, and each gift is given for the common good.

Body of Christ: Paul uses the metaphor of a body to describe the church. Just as a body has many parts, each with its own function, the church is made up of many members, each with their own gifts. Despite their diversity, all members form one body in Christ.

Role of the Holy Spirit: Paul highlights the role of the Holy Spirit in bestowing spiritual gifts and in uniting believers into one body. He asserts that no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except by the Holy Spirit.

This passage underscores the importance of unity in diversity within the Christian community and the central role of the Holy Spirit in the life of the church.

Learning Lessons:

1 Corinthians 12:3-7, 12-13 offers several profound lessons:

Diversity and Unity of Gifts: The passage teaches us that while there are diversities of gifts, they all come from the same Spirit. This underscores the importance of unity in diversity within the Christian community.

Gifts for the Common Good: Each spiritual gift is given for the common good. This implies that if a gift cannot be shared, and shared for the good of others, it is not from the Spirit.

Acknowledging and Using Our Gifts: We are encouraged to acknowledge the spiritual gifts that God has blessed us with and put them to work. Whatever talents and abilities God has blessed us with, they should be used to glorify God and serve others.

The Role of the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit is the source of the gifts. No one can say “Jesus is Lord” except by the Holy Spirit. This highlights the central role of the Holy Spirit in the life of the church.

The Body of Christ: Just as a body has many parts, each with its own function, the church is made up of many members, each with their own gifts1. Despite their diversity, all members form one body in Christ.

These lessons remind us of the importance of recognizing and utilizing our spiritual gifts for the benefit of the community, and the crucial role of the Holy Spirit in bestowing these gifts and uniting us as one body in Christ. (Copilot)

One Body in Christ

We, though many, are one Body in Christ and individually parts of one another. Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us exercise them: 

If prophecy, in proportion to the faith; if ministry, in ministering; if one is a teacher, in teaching; if one exhorts, in exhortation; if one contributes, in generosity; if one is over others, with diligence; if one does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.

Let love be sincere; hate what is evil, hold on to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; anticipate one another in showing honor. 

Do not grow slack in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, endure in affliction, persevere in prayer. 

Contribute to the needs of the holy ones, exercise hospitality. Bless those who persecute you, bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 

Have the same regard for one another; do not be haughty but associate with the lowly.

PERICOPE:

VI. The Duties of Christians

MANY PARTS IN ONE BODY / MUTUAL LOVE

Romans 12:5-16

Build Up the Body of Christ

And He gave some as Apostles, others as prophets, 

others as evangelists, others as pastors and teachers, 

to equip the holy ones for the work of ministry, 

for building up the Body of Christ.

EPHESIANS 4 :11-12

The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament proclaims His handiwork. Day pours out the word to day; and night to night imparts knowledge. Not a word nor a discourse whose voice is not heard; through all the earth their voice resounds, and to the ends of the world, their message. (Ps 19:2-5)

Jesus said, “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. Go and learn the meaning of the words, I desire mercy, not sacrifice. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.” (Mt. 9:12-13)

It is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats take away sins. For this reason, when Christ came into the world, he said: “Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; in holocausts and sin offerings you took no delight in. Then I said, ‘As is written of me in the scroll, behold, I come to do your will, O God.’ ” First he says, “Sacrifices and offerings, holocausts and sin offerings, you neither desired nor delighted in.” These are offered according to the law. Then he says, “Behold, I come to do your will.” He takes away the first to establish the second. By this “will,” we have been consecrated through the offering of the Body of Jesus Christ once for all. (Heb 10:4-10)

Live in a manner worthy of the call you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love, striving to preserve the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace: one Body and one Spirit, as you were also called to the one hope of your call; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. (Eph. 4:1-6)

Have mercy upon us, O Lord, the God of all, and look upon us (Sir 36:1). Have mercy, O Lord, upon the people called by thy name, upon Israel, whom thou hast likened to a first-born son (Sir 36:12).

Have mercy on me, God, in Your goodness; in Your abundant compassion blot out my offense. Wash away all my guilt; from my sin cleanse me. (Ps 51:1-4) Let Your mercy come to me, O Lord, Your salvation according to Your promise (Ps 119:41).

GLORIFIED BODY

He will change our lowly body to conform with His glorified Body by the power that enables Him also to bring all things into subjection to Himself. - Philippians 3:21  

GROW IN EVERY WAY INTO CHRIST

Rather, living the truth in love, we should grow in every way into him who is the head, Christ, from whom the whole Body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, with the proper functioning of each part, brings about the Body’s growth and builds itself up in love. - Ephesians 4:15-16

ONE BODY ONE SPIRIT

1 Live in a manner worthy of the call you have received, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love, 3 striving to preserve the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace: 4 one Body and one Spirit, as you were also called to the one hope of your call; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. - Ephesians 4:1-7

SPIRITUAL BODY

 35 “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come back?” - 1 Corinthians 15:35

36 You fool! What you sow is not brought to life unless it dies. 37 And what you sow is not the body that is to be but a bare kernel of wheat, perhaps, or of some other kind. - 1 Corinthians 15:36-37

42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown corruptible; it is raised incorruptible. 43 It is sown dishonorable; it is raised glorious. It is sown weak; it is raised powerful. 44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual one. - 1 Corinthians 15:42-44

45 So, too, it is written, The first man, Adam, became a living being, the last Adam a life-giving spirit. 46 But the spiritual was not first; rather the natural and then the spiritual. 47 The first man was from the earth, earthly; the second man, from heaven. 48 As was the earthly one, so also are the earthly, and as is the heavenly one, so also are the heavenly. 49 Just as we have borne the image of the earthly one, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly one. - 1 Corinthians 15:45-49

YOU ARE CHRIST'S BODY

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. 1 Corinthians 12:12

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. - 1 Corinthians 12:13-14

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. - 1 Corinthians 12:27-28

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? 31 Strive eagerly for the greatest spiritual gifts. - 1 Corinthians 12:29-31

ONE BODY IN CHRIST

We, though many, are one Body in Christ and individually parts of one another. Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us exercise them:

If prophecy, in proportion to the faith; if ministry, in ministering; if one is a teacher, in teaching; if one exhorts, in exhortation; if one contributes, in generosity; if one is over others, with diligence; if one does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.




Pericope:
MANY PARTS IN ONE BODY - Romans 12:3-8

Body of Christ

And when He had taken some bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, "This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me." (Luke 22:19)

Since Christ Himself has said, "This is My Body" who shall dare to doubt that It is His Body? -- St Cyril of Jerusalem

It is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins. Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, "Sacrifices and offerings thou hast not desired, but a body hast thou prepared for me; in burnt offerings and sin offerings thou hast taken no pleasure. Then I said, `Lo, I have come to do thy will, O God, 'as it is written of me in the roll of the book." (Hebrews 10:4-7)

When he said above, "Thou hast neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings" (these are offered according to the law), then he added, "Lo, I have come to do thy will." He abolishes the first in order to establish the second. (Hebrews 10:8-9)

And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.  (Hebrews 10:10)

It is my eager expectation and hope that I shall not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. (Philippians 1:20)

We, though many, are one Body in Christ and individually parts of one another. (Romans 12:5)


Published: 
November 2, 2012, 5:51 PM
January 27, 2013, 8:10 AM
April 08, 2013, 6:40 AM