As a body is one though it has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body, so also Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons, and we were all given to drink of one Spirit. 14 Now the body is not a single part, but many. 15 If a foot should say, “Because I am not a hand I do not belong to the body,” it does not for this reason belong any less to the body. 16 Or if an ear should say, “Because I am not an eye I do not belong to the body,” it does not for this reason belong any less to the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But as it is, God placed the parts, each one of them, in the body as he intended. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 But as it is, there are many parts, yet one body. 21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I do not need you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I do not need you.” 22 Indeed, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are all the more necessary, 23 and those parts of the body that we consider less honorable we surround with greater honor, and our less presentable parts are treated with greater propriety, 24 whereas our more presentable parts do not need this. But God has so constructed the body as to give greater honor to a part that is without it, 25 so that there may be no division in the body, but that the parts may have the same concern for one another. 26 If [one] part suffers, all the parts suffer with it; if one part is honored, all the parts share its joy. Application to Christ.
Paul compares the unity of the community to the human body as was sometimes done in ancient literature. Paul introduced his topic by acknowledging what is true; namely, a body has many parts and the many parts constitute one body. It is the same way with the Body of Christ. The many parts of the Corinthian community form a single unity in Christ. The community is diverse and whether they were Jews or Gentiles, slaves or freemen, through baptism they became members of the same body in the same spirit. Those who were not graced with the more desirable and showy charismata (spiritual gifts bestowed by the Holy Spirit) should not be discontented.
The Body of Christ is comprised of members with different spiritual gifts which are all necessary for the proper functioning of the Church. God created the body as He intended. Those with the greatest gifts are of little value unless they function as parts of the whole Christian community. They do not need special treatment because they are the more respectable parts of the body. The less showy charismata are needed just as much as the showier charismata so they should not be slighted but be treated with greater respect.
The members of the body (Church community) need each other for the community to function well. They are indispensable and God does not want them to be broken apart. When one part of the body suffers all parts of the one body suffer. When one member of the body is honored, all members are honored.
Almighty God, grant us the grace to be united in Christ so that all members of His body may work as one for the greater glory of your name. This we ask through Christ our Lord. Amen!
__________________________________
References
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
Orchard, Bernard, et al. A Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture. Feb. 1953.
Comments