One with Christ

One With Christ – We continue our walk through the New Testament and, currently, through the writings of the apostle Paul, with a reading from 1 Corinthians 12. Today is also Communion Sunday. Much of Paul’s letter has to do with gathering around the table, and we will be gathering around the table through this month in reflection of that. Today’s section of 1 Corinthians is the familiar description of the parts of the body and how important each one is. As we read this, we’re listening in on a conversation that is directed toward the new Christians in Corinth. Paul spent about 18 months pulling together the diverse believers as that early congregation was being formed, and he offers pastoral instructions to help them. Saying that Jesus is Lord was somewhat dangerous in the Roman empire, and to say that every part of the body is as important as every other part would have been quite revolutionary. Paul ends by saying that we are the body of Christ, so that for the world to be changed by Christ it is up to us as the body of Christ to enable that to happen.