How Do You Feel About Your Body?
Good Morning Friends,
Jesus can change even the most hopeless of situations for he brings hope to those who are struggling to hold on. Think of the victim by the side of the road in the story of the Good Samaritan. Think of the status of church in some sectors. And think of the story of the healing at Nain when two bodies of people converge…one filled with despair and the other with hope. Friends, most of the time we do not think about the health of our individual bodies and when we do it is easy to not think in complementary ways. We can be too fat or too skinny, too short or too tall, or just plain ugly and sickly. And when we think of our collective body…the called our assembly… the church, it can be too bureaucratic or too disorganized…too weak or self-serving…it can be either a joyous parade or a funeral march. Interestingly, in today’s passage from Corinthians Paul says that Christians are Christ’s body. And that is rather amazing for the risen Christ still has the signs of the crucifixion. So, friends, it makes a difference whether we are part of the parade of despair and death or of life and hope. How Do You Feel About Your Body?
Scripture: For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers; then deeds of power, then gifts of healing, forms of assistance, forms of leadership, various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? But strive for the greater gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.
1 Corinthians 12:12-14, 27-31a (NRSV)
Soon afterwards he went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went with him. As he approached the gate of the town, a man who had died was being carried out. He was his mother’s only son, and she was a widow; and with her was a large crowd from the town. When the Lord saw her, he had compassion for her and said to her, “Do not weep.” Then he came forward and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, “Young man, I say to you, rise!” The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. Fear seized all of them; and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has risen among us!” and “God has looked favorably on his people!” This word about him spread throughout Judea and all the surrounding country.
Luke 7:11-17 (NRSV)
Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.’ Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”
Luke 10:30-37 (NRSV)
Message: We all have different gifts so that we might need each other and sometimes we are drawn out of compassion because of a compelling need of others to demonstrates the power of an individual act in love that inspires a collective action. The example in today’s Gospel text is indeed of a desperate situation. The location is in Nain, about 25 miles from Capernaum. The situation is of a widow. So, remember the story of Ruth, Naomi and Boaz. That may give you an idea of the status of widows and their plight. Indeed, the situation of a widow could indeed be one of despair and add to that the death of her only son and the situation is indeed grim. This widow’s life appeared to be filled with fear. Her future appeared to be filled with pain and loneliness and uncertainty. But a remnant of hope always exists. Jesus arrived at the city gate on the same day the boy died. The Jews buried their dead the same day. So, two crowds met. One was following Jesus, and the other a large funeral procession leaving the city and headed for the cemetery. And here is the message in the convergence of despair and hope for the church today for we are still called to care for each other in the Body of Christ. Friends, when one part of the Body is hurting, God wants the rest of us to do everything we can to help. He wants us to show that we care. Jesus calls all believers to a life of Godly sympathy. Jesus saw this woman and He had compassion on her and what she symbolizes. She was now at great social risk and embarrassment, because there was no one that would be able to care for her. This woman was already a widow and had now lost her only son and means of support. So, Jesus felt great compassion for her. Then Jesus does something that is totally unexpected. He first stops the funeral procession and then substitutes a different reality for the one they were following. Yes, the church in some ways has died. But friends, as sinners, we all need a miracle much like the one Jesus brings in today’s Gospel reading. Maybe if we all played our part we too could be part of the miracle of life.
Pray Jesus stop our procession of death and despair in the church at large. Pray we realize that for Jesus there is no statute of limitations but for the rest of us we need to realize that it is in place for a reason. Pray we learn to love our neighbors and especially those most vulnerable. Pray we keep being reformed. Pray we realize that Jesus wants us to feel good about ourselves and others in a way that prompts compassion and acts of kindness not condemnation. Pray we believe that Jesus can change even the most hopeless situations. Pray we as members of Christ’s body bring hope to those who are struggling to hold on. Pray we see our place in the Body of Christ. Pray we realize that it is never too late for Jesus to bring life to that which many consider dead. Pray we realize that Jesus cares for us now and forever. Pray as Christians we realize that we never are to be in a state of despair, even though we might have sorrow. Pray we realize we always have hope. Pray we always have a reason to go on living and giving. Pray we realize that the body is healthiest when all its parts are healthy and whole. Pray we realize that God wants us to see the value of our bodies and in His Body scars and all.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 