Wouldn’t it be the coolest if we could get moving together–and, so what if it starts as something of a clumsy three-legged race? We should practice walking with our Orthodox leg tied to our Protestant leg then maybe rest a leg while our Catholic leg gets a jaunt tied in the mix. Not to aim for another devilish Babel project, mind you—there’s no shortage of that junk. But surely, with God’s grace, we could work into some beautiful moves together. I’m just saying…
Something we shared in a world communion service a couple of years ago comes back to me now:
We need to remember, and we need to remember together, like this--like today—that we are the body of Christ called to glorious World Communion! … You know, this image [in Romans 12] that St. Paul uses of the BODY of CHRIST is provocative:
I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.
3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, but to think with sober judgement, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. 4For as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function, 5so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another. 6We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: prophecy, in proportion to faith; 7ministry, in ministering; the teacher, in teaching; 8the exhorter, in exhortation; the giver, in generosity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness.
These passages push us to imagine all the unique parts of the body beyond ourselves.
Think of babies and how we watch them grow and see them learn about their bodies…At first, they only look and smile (or cry at us!), then they begin to put their fingers (and everything else!) in their mouths. Slowly, they begin to taste, experience, and grow into an awareness and coordination of all their parts. For a while though, they don’t even realize what those feet are for or all the things those little fingers will be able to do… Suddenly, we find ourselves locking all the cabinets, and clearing the runways for these new little explorers!
Like these babies…how much we have we yet to learn about our larger body and the ways we can work together?
I’m not talking legislation here or maneuvering for power as some “moral majority.” Instead of legislation, let’s go for demonstration!
9 Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; 10love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honour. 11Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. 13Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. 17Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. 18If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’ 20No, ‘if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.’ 21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
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