September 15, 2020

Now you are Christ’s Body, and individually parts of it…. (1 Corinthians 12:27-31)

In Scripture, we often hear that each of us is a part of the Body of Christ. That presents a chicken-or-the-egg dilemma. Is the Body of Christ stronger because of what I bring to the table? Or am I stronger because I am part of the Body of Christ?

The answer is “Yes” to both questions.

When I choose to be a bystander, the Body of Christ is weakened.

Pope Francis said: “The Christian life is not a navel-gazing one. It is a life in which one gets out of oneself in order to give oneself to others. It is a gift, it is love – and love does not turn in on itself, it is not selfish, but self-giving.”

The Body of Christ is stronger because of my participation. Likewise, I am made stronger through the participation of others.