Day 19

“The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But, we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit.”
1 Corinthians 12:12-13

The pandemic caused by Covid-19 has done so many things to us, both positive and negative. I marvel at the wonderful time I was able to spend with my family, and, although far from ideal, it has brought us closer together. While it is a huge blessing to be sheltering in place with my family, it is also a huge challenge. I did not realize that being crammed together in our house would test my patience immensely. You see, my parents are visiting us from the Philippines. They have been here since January and cannot go back because of travel restrictions. So, there’s: my Mom and Dad, my wife, and my three daughters who are 19, 18, and 16 years of age (any Dads feel sorry for me yet?). Imagine the dynamics. I have many examples, but let me give you just one...

My Dad and I are polar opposites. Because time is what we have in abundance, there are many things in our house that are now getting more attention. There is the leaking toilet, the widows needing repair, and the overdue car maintenance work — just to name a few. It would not be unusual for our day to start with my father’s sermon on how I had failed to do proper maintenance of these things which will now cost more to fix. Once we agree that we need to do something, it needs to be his way or the highway. At the end of the day though, we will be able to finish the task (albeit with many arguments). Then, we will end the day by playing chess, in which he is clearly the superior player.

I am reminded by the Apostle Paul, in his second letter to the church in Corinth, when he said in 1st Corinthians 12: 18-21, “But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. How strange a body would be if it had only one part! Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.””

In the same way that my Dad and I cannot let our differences overpower the bond we have as family, we too in our church must remember that we are one body. We are brought together by the mighty power of the blood of our Savior Jesus. In this moment, where our church can be separated by our individual preferences, let us remember that what unites us is far superior than what separates us.

Interestingly, this call to be united in one body in chapter 12 is followed by the Apostle Paul with an in-depth discussion of what love is in Chapter 13. He knew that disagreements would happen in the church, and he prepared us.

Prayer

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Forgive us when we as your people become the source of disgrace to your name because we have allowed our differences to overpower what unites us in your Son. Help us trust in your love to flow in and through us. Holy Spirit, empower us to love others, especially the ones that we are most different from.

Von Parangalan