What did Paul mean by calling the believers Christ’s body?

04-07-2019Why do we do that?

Paul uses the term “body of Christ” and “church” interchangeably. The word “church” is a translation of the Greek word EKKLESIA, an assembly of people called forth, “the people of God.” Christ calls forth believers to bring him to the world, especially by their love and community: “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35). It is the task of the church, then, to perpetuate the love of Christ on earth and to mirror the love of the Trinity.

St. Vincent de Paul wrote "You as a community must do all in your power to be formed in the image of God. And what do we find in God? We see equality of persons, what should that teach you if not that you should all be one and equal”

Christ put a great deal of trust in his apostles and in us. He depends upon us to continue his work, and the success of his mission depends to a great extent on how well we fulfill our role of being Christ to the world. Before Jesus was crucified, he had his own mortal body through which he could speak, listen, forgive, heal, comfort, share, pray, love, unite, and bless. Now we are his body.

We give Christ our lips to speak his word of love. We give him our hearing to listen to the troubled. We give him our eyes to look with love upon others. We give him our hands to touch the lonely. When we forgive, Christ forgives and brings peace. When we heal, Christ, heals. When we comfort, Christ consoles. Christ needs our generosity so he may help the poor. He needs our prayers so that his prayer can be lifted-up to the Father. Through our love, Christ’s love takes human form. When we bless, Christ blesses.

We are members of the body of Christ. Saint Paul writes, “so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another. We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: prophecy, in proportion to faith” (Romans 12:5-6). Parents raising their children, students attending class, adults at their jobs, priests in their ministries, the elderly in nursing homes… all are the body of Christ.

As a member of the body of Christ, which part are you? Why?

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