Reflecting On (1 Corinthians 12:14-25) During The Pandemic

 In light of the recent Covid-19 pandemic, many Christians have found themselves turning to their bible for answers. Some have found themselves seeking passages of comfort. For others, they have looked more to passages that would confirm we are indeed living in the end times. I, like many of my fellow Christians, have also found myself turning to the bible in search of answers. Like many of my fellow Christians as well, I have found myself looking at these same passages. I found myself, however, reflecting one night on a chapter from Paul's first letter to the Corinthians. I started reflecting on this when I kept hearing in the news how the people on the front lines weren't just first responders anymore. Rather, the people on the front lines were also doctors, nurses, stockers, cashiers, and truck drivers. Anyone else who wasn't considered as "essential" has also been told that they play a crucial role which was to stay home. It was at this point that I caught myself realizing God's beauty in a realistic setting. In chapter 12 of Paul's first letter to the Corinthians, Paul talks about the many parts of the body of Christ referring to the diversity of the community of believers. At the time when Paul wrote this letter, he was mainly referring to Jesus's salvation not only being accessible to Jews, but also to gentiles (basically everyone else) as far as diversity was concerned. During this crucial time, however, there is still truth to be found in these passages not just within the Christian community concerning religion or nationality, but within humanity as a whole.

          1 Corinthians 12:14 starts with Paul saying "the body is not a single part, but many". Again, what better way to not just describe the body, the community of Christ, but humanity as a whole. We as a society are made up of distinct individuals who function in society in so many different ways. From the stocker at your local convenience store to the truck drivers on the road at all odd hours of the day. It is because of this diversity in interests and job vocations that society has kept advancing. It is granted that there are times when these advancements have been used for evil. In all fairness though, as many times as this has been done, advancements have also been used for good to combat this darkness. One need not look any further than what is happening right now with advancements we are able to use today. As I write this blog, there are thousands of ventilators being used to care for patients suffering from the effects of the Covid 19 virus. Even aside from the virus for a brief second, how many advancements have been made, or are being made, to find a cure for childhood cancer? It is in the following passages that Paul's letter goes into more detail on the importance of diversity in the world we live in today. 

           Paul goes on to say "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. 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" (1 Cor. 12:15-16). It is a sad fact that many of us in today's society easily forget how valuable we are in our own unique way. This feeling could be with our professional job(s), our personal jobs, or any state we find ourselves in for that matter. For some of us, this feeling would apply to all of the above. With all the hustle and bustle we get lost in on a daily basis, it's very easy to forget our role in the greater narrative, especially when we're not sure what that role is in the grand scheme of things! This is where the pandemic, as much fear as it creates, increasingly highlights how important our roles actually are, from the lowest in society to the highest. If everyone was a police officer, who would be in the hospitals to provide care and compassion to those suffering and/or on the brink of death? If everyone was a stocker who would be there to still enforce law and order in society? I think you get where I'm going with this.  For those of us that aren't out every day facing this invisible threat, we are still equally valuable in the easiest way: by staying home and following the laid out health protocols. Just by staying home, we are reducing the risk of those around us being put in danger whether it be our loved ones or strangers we may come in contact with. Paul even speaks to this with regards to those that may be considered unnecessary, "Indeed, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are all the more necessary" (1 Cor. 12:22). Don't think for a second, ever, that whatever role you find yourself in determines your importance. Everyone is important in the world we live in today now more than ever, with or without a pandemic. 

           By Paul's words, guided by Christ, we as a society have shown that our love is stronger than any pandemic. It is this love that has brought us together as a country, "so that there may be no division in the body, but that the parts may have the same concern for one another" (1 Cor. 12:25). We must not ever forget that we as the church, the ecclesia, are the visual representation of Christ on earth. We must also not forget that humanity is also the visual representation of Christ (Mt. 22: 35-40, Mk. 12:28-34, Lk. 10:27). Humanity, made up of believers and non-believers in Christ has shown God's love whether they know it or not in this critical time. We must not let this pandemic allow us to cower in fear, but rather to look to Christ and glorify him. When reflecting on the crucifixion, this act of violence was meant to humiliate Christ, yet it glorified him through his love. Likewise, through our love for one another, let not this pandemic turn us away from Christ, but towards him. Thus, by turning towards Christ, we may glorify him.