Thursday after Cantate, 5/6/99

Corinthians 12: 12, 13
As the body is one and yet has many parts, and all the parts of the body,
many as they are, form one body, so is Christ.  By one Spirit all of
us--Jews or Greeks, slaves or free--were baptized to form one body, and
that one Spirit was poured out for all of us to drink.

In the name of the One Spirit, amen.

We are one body, many parts brought together by the one Spirit in Holy
Baptism.  But how do we feel about our Christian brothers and sisters? 
>From the pastor right down to the child in its mothers arms, do we look
at the other members of the body and want to cut them off?  Do we want to
cut ourselves off for one reason or another?  Does the pastor complain
about this member or that member?  Do the members complain about the
pastor?  Do we wonder what earthly good a particular person does in the
Church?  What about the person who is always speaking his mind, often
without thinking through what he is saying?  Do we criticize the children
placed into our care?  Are we tired of our Sunday School teacher?

The list is endless.  Human beings are so good at fault finding!  But God
has chosen us to be part of the body of Christ.  One has one talent,
someone else has another.  We on our part do not dare complain or
criticize the other parts of the body of Christ.  After all, He has
called us by the same Spirit.

That is just the point.  If we focus on the Holy Spirit, rather than the
individual members of the Body of Christ, we will find less fault.  We
will tend to see how the parts work together for the good of all.  Even
the person who takes much effort and patience to deal with gives us
opportunity to show our Christian love in Christ Jesus.  Thank God for
the incredible wisdom He shows in how He builds the Church!  Amen.

Prayer:
Dear heavenly Father, thank you for Building the Body of Christ in the
Holy Sprit so that all the members work together for the good of all. 
Forgive us for speaking badly of, and acting improperly toward the other
members of Christ's body.  Fill us with Your Holy Spirit and unify us in
Christian love, amen.