One Body

A Reflection on the Second Reading for June 14th, 2020:
The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ

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​1 Corinthians 10.16-17

Brothers and sisters: The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a sharing in the Blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a sharing in the Body of Christ?

Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread
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Pause. Pray.

And then read more...

In this translation from the NRSV, the word “sharing” is used. The Greek text would have used the word “koinonia”. This word, koinonia, is used by Saint Paul many times throughout his writings. It appears 19 times in most editions of the Greek New Testament. In the New American Standard Bible, it is translated as "fellowship" twelve times, "sharing" three times, and "participation" and "contribution" twice each.

This word, “koinonia”, was used to describe Christian fellowship. It was more than just sharing a common cup or loaf of bread. It meant an intimacy that was based on a personal relationship with Jesus and subsequently all who believed in Him. One Body.

Some of the philosophies we hear in society today are contradictory to this teaching of One Body. “Believe in yourself” we are told from a young age. “Look after yourself first”; “You are number one”. These ideas that are perpetuated in our culture today have led us down a path of destruction which is more and more evident with each passing year. Not only are we becoming more self-absorbed and narcissistic but we are also now willing to sacrifice the other for our own preservation and the preservation of our families. It’s a slippery slope that none of us are immune to falling down. 

This reading from First Corinthians is an arrow pointing us in the right direction, helping us to avoid that slippery slope. “Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body… ” (1Corinthians 10:17). If we can remember that we are all united by our sharing in Jesus then we can also remember that we are united by our sharing as children of God, our Creator. In Galatians we read, “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:28)

Saint Paul is saying that no matter what race, gender, or condition of life you find yourself in, all are equally accepted and loved by God. And so should we equally accept and love as God does. Whether black or white, young or old, healthy or unhealthy, born or unborn, all are one in the Body of Christ. We all are called to share in the One Cup and the One Loaf and to make sure that there is plenty for all. 
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This quote from Christian apologist Ravi Zacharias really made me think:

“If I only live for the moment I do not count the cost. If I live for what is eternal, no temporary sacrifice is too great for the eternal joy of being in the presence of the One who shaped me.” 

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Let us pray that we can learn to live for what’s eternal so we can truly share in the body and blood of Christ as one family, one body. Let the love of Jesus flow through each of us to the parts of our Body that aren’t experiencing that love in the world today. Amen




Maxine Brown
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Photo by Photos by Lanty on Unsplash

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