RBWords

     I hope that my Beloved Congregation will hear (or read) all of the second scripture for this Sunday and not the "shorter version."  St. Paul's extended metaphor of the church as the Body of Christ is wonderful.  No member of that body should be made to feel they do not belong.

     There are times when parts of the body seem to go to war with one another.  Anyone with an immune system illness or thyroid problems knows about this.  When it happens, the whole body suffers physically and emotionally.  Anyone who breaks a toe knows that it impacts the entire way one gets around.  A migraine headache can immobilize a person for days!  In short, lots of things need to go right for a sense of good health to take place.  

     Those of us who have been in pastoral work know that much of the good things that are necessary for the many activities and ministries of a parish are dependent on background work and often unnoticed tasks.  It is easy to take all these things for granted because they stay unnoticed until the person or persons in charge of them do not get them done for whatever reason.  At the same time, each activity or ministry needs leadership, and this part can be difficult to discern when one hears, "I'll help but I don't want to be in charge."  St. Paul reminds us that we need everyone and we need to discern the gifts of all for the good of all.  If this scripture makes any of us think about our current state of health as individuals, it can also help us to understand that good health care of a community/parish needs every part to do its part.  AMEN