We Are All One Body

The interesting thing about the mass is that it makes the Body of Christ present. Obviously, the body of Christ is made present in the Eucharist but in a spiritual sense, the Body of Christ is made present in all of the people who are there. Paul reminds us in this Sunday's reading that through baptism we are made part of the Body of Christ.

It is in the Eucharist though, that I feel this the most. It is during the mass that I feel connected with everyone else at mass. I feel connected to those who are sitting in the pews in front and behind me. I feel connected to those who are celebrating across town at St. Andrews or downtown at the cathedral. I feel connected to those celebrating mass in cities all across the country and around the world. It is in the mass that I feel connected to those saints in Heaven. For it is in the Eucharist that we are all made present and connected.

That probably isn't the best theology because one could assume that we are not part of the body of Christ outside of the mass. Now--the way some of us act outside of mass you would think this this is true but it is not. We need to remember that. We are always part of the Body of Christ and we all have our part to further the Kingdom of God. None of our tasks are greater or lesser than another. None of us are greater or lesser than another.

We, the faithful, need to act like this. We need to rely on each other and help each other out. It's not all about us. It's all about Him! Like Paul says:

The eye cannot say to the hand, “I do not need you, “

nor again the head to the feet, “I do not need you.”

Indeed, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker

are all the more necessary,

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,

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,

so that there may be no division in the body,

but that the parts may have the same concern for one another.

If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it;

if one part is honored, all the parts share its joy.

We should always remember this. If we keep in mind that we are all one body it will help us appreciate the mass more and it will help us appreciate each other more outside of mass.

How do you appreciate the other parts of the body outside of the mass? How can you do better? Do you have weaknesses that are helped by other? What are your thoughts?