The Rev'd Jane Bearden
“Strive for the greater gifts and I will show you a still more excellent way.”
What is this greater gift? How do we attain it? Are some more able to reach for it then others? In our epistle today Paul writes to the church in Corinth, a rather contentious group, that the body of Christ consists of many and varied members. This metaphor of feet, hands, organs, and such are intended to illustrate the wonderful diversity of the church, the body of Christ. But more than that I think…
Can the foot say because I am not a hand I do not really beong to the total body framework. Just because the foot might like to use the excuse of not having an opposable toe does not make that foot any less a part of the body than the most nimble hand. If the whole body were an eye even if that eye had the clearest, deepest vision – how much diminished the body would be without the sense of hearing or touch or smell. God has made this miraculous body in her own image and because this body is created in the image of God each is precious unto itself and one part cannot say to the other “I have no need of you”. No member is worth more than any other and in fact in that crazy upside world of the Kingdom of God where the status quo of kings being more valuable than peasants, where the wealthy are more to be desired than the poor – in God’s Kingdom and in the church - it is the lowliest of members who is honored.
Paul tells us that if one suffers all suffer and if one rejoices it is cause for all to rejoice. The words of Dr King come to mind for me. “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere” For Paul it is not a matter of us working to achieve this wonderful diversity of gifts and members – God has already done that. Instead Paul makes his argument to the church in Corinth from the context of that diversity – it is a given. Each part of the body, each member of the church, has a God-given gift and Paul tells us – if we strive together for the greater gift God will show us a more excellent way. But help me out here Paul, what is that greater gift? It will be next week in our lectionary before we hear Paul fully name the greater gift. In our baptism we receive the Spirit of God and in our living out of our life in Christ we experience that same Spirit and through that indwelling Spirit, we come to know intimately, joy and peace of God’s Love. The gift of Love in Christ Jesus is greatest gift of all.
When I first visited Trinity I brought a slide presentation. I have presented that workshop many times since I first accepted the call to the Gulf Coast. I called it “The Church at its Best” because the relationships, the joy, the forgiveness and grace that resulted from the unprecedented out pouring of love for those who were hurting after Katrina has been and continues to be amazing. The response of our church in the aftermath of the earthquakes in Haiti is no less so. Whether we are about the work of responding, building, supporting, listening to, or advocating for the church is quietly going about the business of loving.
This Sunday is of course our Annual Meeting Sunday and today the gifts and talents we here at Trinity offer is on my mind. There are obvious gifts that we as the body of Christ offer – our beautiful organ and the music programs for the community, our after-school program opportunity for 20 + children who would otherwise not have the resources to participate in music education, but who because of the gifts of volunteers, teachers, and those who support us financially are able to experience the wonder and beauty of music. Joyful Ladle is a long-standing gift to the people of Haverhill as is the hospitality we offer to several groups who work with women and children in desperate situations. Trinity through those who are gifted in finance or human resource offer these gifts to the wider church, serving as consultants and advisors to both the diocese and to other churches. Through gifts from our endowment we have provided the opportunity for other churches to pursue specialized missions – including my own mission work in Mississippi and New Orleans.
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