Romans 12: 5-16ab (Tuesday, November 6, 2007)

In today’s reading, we see Paul’s theology of the Church and how members of the Church should live. In 1 Corinthians 12:12-26 he uses the analogy of the human body to explain the body of Christ. We all are one body in Christ. Anyone who is baptized in Christ is baptized into his body. It doesn’t matter whether you are black, white, Asian, African, Indian, etc. Your baptism gives you a new identity, a new passport – you are now a citizen of God’s body. Every citizen of Christ’s body has received a gift and this gift is to be used in building God’s kingdom here on earth. It is important that you know what gift you have and to appreciate the gift. It is only when you that, that you are able to use that gift to build God’s kingdom on earth. No one gift is more superior to another for you to be jealous of another person’s gift; and the gift is not for your own glory for you to want to have another person’s gift. You must accept joyfully whatever gift God has given to you and use it to build up God’s kingdom. When every one of us does this, then we are making God’s kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus Christ, help us to know and appreciate the gifts that you have given to us. Holy Spirit of the living God, come to our assistance.