We are the body of Christ.
There is a quotation from St. Teresa of Avila that states: "Christ has no body now but yours. No hands, no feet on earth but yours. Yours are the eyes through which he looks compassion on this world. Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good. Yours are the hands through which he blesses all the world. Yours are the hands, yours are the feet, yours are the eyes, you are his body. Christ has no body now on earth but yours."
In recent years, the singer Jewel recorded a song called "Hands" which has the same meaning, and even goes further as the song states that we all can do something to help even is our hands are 'small."
Who will fight for justice for the poor and the vulnerable if not us? Who will show compassion for the weak if not us? Who will be Christ to the world, if not us?
In the early days of the church, the Christian community would gather together to retell the story of Jesus, to read the letters sent to the community from Paul or one of the other disciples, and to offer a sacrifice of bread and wine as Jesus did at the Last Supper.
In this passage, Paul is reminding the community that they are all a part of the body of Christ. The Corinthians were an interesting group and I would have loved to be a fly on the wall at some of their gatherings.
This passage will be followed up in chapter 11, by a further passage on the institution of this institution of the Eucharist and then by the gifts given to the body of Christ in chapters 12, 13, and 14.
Although not all Christian traditions interpret the Eucharist in the same way, or celebrate is as often as others, all denominations agree that we are a people of "thanksgiving" who have an obligation to be Christ's body on earth, using our gifts for the betterment of the world.
Today, let's look at the gifts and opportunities we have been given and see how well we have been using them for the common good.
