06/30/2021 YOU ARE THE BODY
1 Corinthians 12:27 Now you are the body of CHRIST, and each one of you is a part of it.
[New International translation]
Discussion
The 12th chapter of the first letter to the Corinthian church was authored by Paul, who describes himself as “called to be an apostle of JESUS CHRIST” and Sosthenes, who Paul describes as “our brother,” and who, in Acts 18:17, is described as “the chief ruler of the synagogue in Corinth. See, 1 Corinthians 1:1. Throughout this letter, there is a frequent theme and appeal for unity.
The “we are the body of CHRIST” scripture lends itself to the importance of CHRIST being able to use each of us for HIS good. This is how Teresa of Ávila put it:
“Christ has nobody now but yours. No hands, no feet on earth but yours.
Yours are the eyes through which he looks compassion on this world.
Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good.
Yours are the hands through which he blesses all the world.
Yours are the hands, yours are the feet, yours are the eyes, you are his body.
Christ has nobody now on earth but yours.”