Saturday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time
As a pediatrician, I spent a great deal of my training and professional career studying the human body and its development. From infancy until adulthood, there are many changes that occur. In order for this transformation to occur, there are many parts of the body that need to work together to bring about this growth. St. Paul uses the example of the human body to illustrate how the body of Christ (the church) grows into its maturity. Just like the human body, there are many parts that are necessary to build the Body of Christ, and it is God’s grace that provides the necessary energy to fuel this creation.
In today’s first reading, St. Paul describes the many gifts that God has given to the Christian community. Apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers are given to help build up the holy ones. With the support of all of these ministers, the entire Christian community is working together to attain the unity of faith. St. Paul recognizes that it takes many different elements of Christian living to bring about this transformation. He is encouraging the Christian community to develop a maturity in their faith that will help them stand strong against the trickery arising from the world around them. Through living God’s truth, the community of believers is called to become Christ. This can only occur when every member uses his or her gifts to work together and grow into the Body of Christ.
I think that St. Paul’s call to unity and maturity of faith are meant for us even today. Using his imagery of the human body provides an excellent example to help better understand how this transformation may occur. As our body changes over time from an infant to an adult, there are multitudes of cells, organs, hormones and chemicals that are vital to make these changes occur. So to in our Christian community- every person is a unique expression of God. If we want to grow into the Body of Christ, every member is essential in creating this whole Body. St. Paul describes the “proper functioning of each part” as a necessary part of “reaching the full stature of Christ.” Using this same imagery, Jesus is the DNA of the Body of Christ that provides the direction, foundation and ultimate outcome for the growth of the community. The Christian community grows into the Christ when the many gifts of the members are shared in love as everyone strives to imitate Jesus in all things.
As I reflect on this reading there are two elements that stand out. Our church and community is growing and changing constantly, and for this growth to be healthy and mature we must always have Jesus as the foundation for our faith. It is love of God and others that will be the unifying force that will direct our church towards our goal of becoming the Body of Christ.
Loving God, Jesus shows us how we are called to love. Send down your Spirit so we may use our gifts and talents to build our faith and share your love with others. May we grow to be one with You. We pray this in Christ’s name. AMEN.
-Marylynn Herchline