Listen

Christ is just like the human body—a body is a unit and has many parts; and all the parts of the body are one body, even though there are many. We were all baptized by one Spirit into one body, whether Jew or Greek, or slave or free, and we all were given one Spirit to drink.

1 Corinthians 12:12-13

Think

In baptism, we often speak of entering a new family. But it’s more dramatic than that. We are more than brothers, sisters, and siblings. We are one body. Connected as closely as hand to wrist and ankle to shin. When we are baptized, we take on more than a new name, a new family, we take on a new body. We are clothed with Christ’s body. We become part of his body.

This means that when one member suffers, we all suffer – like when you stub your toe, the rest of your body is not exempt from feeling your pain. God calls us to use the gifts we have been given to alleviate the suffering our fellow members feel. No matter who we are or where we come from, God pours out the Spirit upon us so that we might have the gifts we need to help our neighbors.

Jordan Haynie Ware

Pray

Incarnate God, you have bound me so closely to you that I am part of your very own body: remind me of the closeness of that connection, that I might always help my fellow members in need; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who for our sake became poor. Amen.

Go

Breathe upon us, breath of God, young and old alike.

Send us forth, gifted with your power, to serve your people.