You Are THE Body - 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a (Epiphany 3C)

 

You ARE the Body... YOU are the body... you are the BODY... this sentence can be read in many different ways and mean other things. Some of my initial thoughts about this reading today sent me to a place I hadn't thought of in a long time - One of my guilty pleasures in my early twenties during college was watching Maury Povich. He was a talk show host whose topics were typically around family dysfunction running the whole spectrum. My favorite type of show was around contested paternity... and the guests would agree to paternity tests, and the results would be released live on television. This was NOT my finest hour of television. ANYWAY - Maury, the host, when reading the results, always said... "You ARE the father" or "You are NOT the father!!" depending on the situation. Don't get me wrong - it makes for theatrical television, but this is not something I should be watching these days. Although, given my former employment in family court, it reveals a lot more about me now that I think about it. 

Anyway - the point is that there was a gift that Maury had, at that time, that made watching so compelling. You always wanted to know the results of the test. Let me be clear - this gift was not spiritual in the least, but it made for good entertainment.

Today, our scripture is the opposite, definitely talking about the spiritual gifts, and hopefully, I'll be moderately entertaining. As a recap, last week, I spoke about how the Holy Spirit was the one who gave us those gifts from God. We started the first 12 verses of chapter 12 in Paul's first letter to the Corinthians. Paul argues that God provides the gifts of the spirit, and those gifts are diverse, maybe even unknowable how numerous. But through those gifts, that doesn't make you any better than any other believer blessed with a different gift. All gifts are important and worthy to bring transformation through people's hearts. No gift is more important than any other gift.  And Paul continues, however, the difference this week is that after we've reflected on the idea of spiritual gifts, Paul moves forward in telling us that though we all may have different gifts, we are all given said gifts from the same source, making us one unified, through diversity. We are empowered to use our gifts to God's glory through that source. Yes, that means you! You may feel like a tiny cell in the giant body of the church, and that's ok. It can be overwhelming to see our usefulness among the church. But remember, again, God called you to be part of the church. He has given you gifts to use boldly for the transformation of the world. That doesn't sound very comforting… but that's what we are doing here. That's the mission of our church. Do we get transformation by sitting in the pews and passively absorbing today's message and worship? NO. We need to engage those around us, either here in the pews or the community - outside these walls! 

Let's dive into the text for today. The first two lines are probably two of the most beautiful of Paul's letters. Two weeks ago, we talked about the baptism of Jesus and how God opened up the heavens, the Holy Spirit was released like a dove, and God spoke. That connected the trinity into one entity. Now, Paul continues saying the body of Christ and his followers, or members, are all connected through Jesus. As long as each member was baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, we were made to access the same. 

Let's take a minute to consider that. How revolutionary would that have been at the time? Just a minute ago, Paul was writing about how there is no hierarchy in the specialness of gifts that God gives them through the Holy Spirit. And now, in Paul's own words, Jews and Gentiles enslaved people and free - they are all able to access the same spirit! See, we can break this down so many different ways. The divisions Paul discusses were probably two of the most common… but now… how many ways are we divided these days? East or West; First-world or third-world; Democrats and Republicans; black and white; straight or gay; documented or undocumented; vaccinated or unvaccinated; rural or city folks? Do we really believe in the idea that we are one in the spirit? Universally speaking? How do we affirm believers who find that same Holy Spirit while in prison, while waiting for immigration papers, who live in abject poverty, whether here in our own country or around the world? It is a blessing when ANYONE is baptized in the name, but they also need the structure to grow that faith. 

Paul uses this metaphor of the body so well. As we've probably been feeling over the last few minutes, maybe each of you has been trying to be more mindful of what your body is doing. Maybe thinking about how your feet fit in your shoes, maybe watching the birds or cars as they pass out the window (it's ok - be honest)... or it might be a little early, but maybe you're thinking about where or what you're going to be having for brunch after service. There are so many signals our bodies send us. It's hard to keep up with all of them unless it's overwhelming - like a smell, a loud noise, or something unexpected happening. That focus is good... I don't mind it. Remember that we're the body, not the head. The head of this proverbial body is Christ, and so as part of the body, we must not forget that everything we act on will hopefully glorify God and point back to Christ. It's like a filter that all of our experiences should go through ... what we see, what we hear, who we talk to... how can we put these things through the filter of Christ... how can we see Christ through the ordinary bits of life, not just the big and dramatic moments of either suffering or conscious submission. How do we find Christ every day? Bodies need to breathe, exercise, to be in community. Are we acting as the body of Christ through our week? Do we have acts of service that others could point to and see the Christ in us? It comes down to what we value in ourselves as much as in others: have any of these phrases meant anything to you? I am what have, I am what I do, I am what others say about me, I am no better than my worst moment, I am no less than my best moment. Henri Nouwen called these "the five lies of self-identity". As much as I'd like to say I've evolved and grown, these lies still come back around and get me. I am more than all of those lies, and the grace that was given is sure a sign of that. And for each of you - I hope you know that as well. 

Paul takes great time to explain, if God gives these gifts through the Holy Spirit, and we are given specific gifts that work through us, how are we to deny those who have gifts that are different than ours? When we are looking around at those who have different than us, do we get jealous? What about if we don't understand the gifts? Man... that can build the tension. Can an eye really know what a foot does and how it works? I mean, they're right next to each other, but are the trachea and the esophagus really that different? I'm sure they are, it's not my specialty to know the specifics. . The gifts that we receive can be confusing at best sometimes of what we are supposed to do with them, but once we realize how we can glorify God, the results can be amazing!

As all of you know, my kids are small, and we enjoy watching Disney movies. One of the newest ones that came out was "Encanto", about a multi-generational family in Colombia who are given unique gifts, such as talking to animals, creating gardens wherever, or having superhuman strength. As the family is blessed with certain skills, it becomes clear that not everything is balanced in the casita (house). We find out the main character, Mirabel, did not receive one of these amazing gifts. All the other family members know their roles and where they fit in, not only in the house but also in the greater community - using those powers. Mirabel then is kind of an outcast. Turns out she isn't the only outcast of the family. Her uncle Bruno (who we will talk about) has also left the family and allegedly been seen in years. Bruno's power was that of prophecy or seeing the future. Anyway - as the story continues, Mirabel talks to each of her family and finds out that they are performing just in the way that pleases the grandmother, the matriarch. It turns out that's what ends up destroying everything. In that moment of destruction, when all the hope seems lost, the Abuela, the grandmother, sees that she is holding her family back and that the gifts are not hers to control or dictate how they are to be used. Encanto is a great movie about gifts and looking for ways to stretch your imagination on using them, even if you don't feel like you have one at all. Maybe someone has discouraged you from using it to your potential. 

Maybe someone's jealousy of seeing your gifts has poisoned them to seeing their own or being able to perform what God has given. This is why it's essential to know that the YOU in the title is more of y'all. This is a PLURAL form of the noun and needs to be addressed as such. Y'all are the body, mmmkay? Life takes a village, and no one villager is more important than the whole. We bring each of our gifts, and just as in the text, we all can't be feet, we can't all be eyes or order the one to do the other's job. That's where chaos can start. Each of us must set our individual desires of giftedness aside for the needs of the whole. I know I can list many people in this sanctuary who give week in and week out for their quiet service. And don't get me wrong - I appreciate every moment you're providing. I wonder if there are ways others of you can jump in and use your gifts for the betterment of Bethany church. 

Bethany church has so much potential, and we could use some more hands in more areas. If you need direction on how you can help, call me - my number is listed on the bulletin, or the church office. We can get you in touch with the right people of what you're looking to take on. If there are any NEW ideas for ministries, or something that you just enjoy doing that could turn into a ministry somehow, I'd love to sit down and talk to see how we can make that happen. Our gifts are so important, and anyway that we can encourage each other or connect to those skills that we need help with. The list of gifts Paul offers is not absolute. There are so many gifts that were unknowable in Paul's time that we can hone and develop, sometimes we need to listen and minister to those who are willing to offer help in doing the work of Jesus. 

At the end of our reading today, we also see the need to be the body of Christ in community. If there are those who are rejoicing, may we rejoice with them. And if there are those suffering, let everyone suffer together. What Paul is saying is, let us live life together. Brennan Manning spoke in an interview, "The dominant characteristic of an authentic spiritual life is the gratitude that flows from trust — not only for all the gifts that I receive from God, but gratitude for all the suffering. Because in that purifying experience, suffering has often been the shortest path to intimacy with God." Suffering is terrible for everyone... but it is one of the many human conditions. And to give aid in a time of suffering is to be full of grace, and to bring the face of God closer. Y'all are the body, peace to each of the parts, and may we work in unity through diversity. 

Amen.