Memorial of Saint Cornelius, pope and martyr, and Saint Cyprian, bishop and martyr

Today's Mass Readings

Today we celebrate the Memorial of Pope Saint Cornelius and St. Cyprian the bishop. Both of these Christian saints were martyred for the faith, and both provide models for us today to inspire us to live our faith boldly.

It is appropriate then that the first reading is taken from St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians, and particularly his famous discussion concerning the Church as one body, and we are therefore members of this one Body of Christ. In the broader context of this passage, St. Paul explains that we each play different roles in the one Body of Christ. We are like different body parts. I once heard a man say that if you don't have the gift of speaking in tongues, then you are not a real Christian, and he cited for support St. Paul's comment, also from 1 Corinthians, that he wished all had such spiritual gifts.

But when we read St. Paul's text in context, and indeed the context we are provided in our first reading today is sufficient, we see that St. Paul is telling us that we will have different gifts. Not all of us will have the gifts he enumerates, and the reason for this is that we all represent different parts of this one Body of Christ. The problem for the Christian community at Corinth, to which St. Paul is writing, has the problem that some of the members are judging others because they don't have certain gifts. St. Paul points instead to the diversity among Christians as a good thing.

As members of the Body of Christ, we need to celebrate one another's gifts. When one among us gets honored, that's an honor for all of us. When one among us had difficulties, that should be an experience of difficulty for all of us.

Today, let us spend some time reflecting on ways in which God has gifted us. Let's ask ourselves, what is something special that God has done for me or given me? Then let's think of ways in which we can make those gifts available to help others. It is when we use our gifts to help others that we are living like members of the one Body of Christ. Let's strive to live out St. Paul's vision in our own lives.

- Jeff Morrow