“So, what do you have to offer?”
3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time – C
We are all part of a grand event. We each have a role to play in this event. What is your role? What is my role? How well do we perform our role? “So, what is it that you have to offer? So, what is it that I have to offer?”
Nehemiah, in his efforts to rebuild the nation, as governor, had to start with what was most important and that was to remind the people that God must take first place in their lives!
The central theme of today’s liturgy is God’s word. Over the past two weeks, in our RCIA sessions, we have learned about the Bible, God’s Word and the Story of Salvation. But Paul, in his First Letter to the Corinthians gives us something formidable to think about.
In Paul’s time, many of the members of the Corinthian community were boasting about the importance of their different gifts. These gifts often manifested a spiritual quality, such as speaking in tongues prophesying interpreting, preaching, healing and so forth. So, Paul used this image of the body to deflate the people’s arrogance and put their fellowship with Christ in anew context.
Paul wants the people to understand that at baptism, the Holy Spirit draws all believes together into fellowship with Christ as one body. Therefore, no member can be considered greater than another: all are equally relevant because each contributes to the well-being of the whole body.
What is your role? What is my role? How well do we perform our role? “So, what is it that you have to offer? So, what is it that I have to offer?”
This image of the body as a metaphor was already commonly used by Greek philosophers to describe the community. Paul, however, is the first to apply it to the image to the church.
That being said, Paul’s metaphor can be a helpful way for us to think about our role in our own parish community. As one body, we rely on one another and need to recognize the vital role each one of us plays in the building up of the community.
In some ways, I feel like Nehemiah, attempting to rebuild these parishes, or at least many of the programs, so that we can become once again vibrant Catholic communities. But I cannot do it by myself. I have a role to as Pastor, as Spiritual Leader, even as a companion on the journey. Sometimes I get frustrated that more of our parishioners do not acclimate to their role?
So, what is your role? Is it a spectator? Is it a leader? Is it a follower? Is your role a builder? How well do you perform your role? Are you here only on Sunday’s but do not offer yourself for anything else? “What is it that you have to offer?”
Both of our parishes are gearing up for the Lenten Fish Fry’s. What do you have to offer? Both of our parishes could do so much more in areas of Faith Formation, Bible Study, Eucharistic Adoration, Children’s Liturgy, Youth Ministry and much more. But I cannot do all of this on my own, it takes all of us, the whole body – all its parts, the young and the old!
As one community in Christ, we must rely on one another, and we need to recognize the vital role each part in that body plays.
Now, is a suitable time for all of us to reflect on the gifts God has given us, and how we can put our gifts forward for the good of this community. God bless us. . .