By Robert R.
Schwarz
Call it a
doctrine, a religious entity or metaphysical concept,
the term Body of Christ has been
infused into Christendom for centuries
without unanimity about its meaning and how it functions. This is expected , considering the
two billion Christians in
the world ( according to the Pew Forum on Religion and
Public Life ) make
up an estimated 41,000 denominations world-wide ( according to the
Center for the Study of Global Christianity ) .
Nevertheless, there appears to be common agreement among church leadership
that every Christian should be
aware that he or she is a member of this Body and of the role he has in
it.
What will follow
are comments of several active
Christians who take their given role in
this Body seriously. First, we
should perhaps cite from Webster's New
World College Dictionary two of its
definitions of a Christian: 1 ) a person professing belief in Jesus at the
Christ, or in the religion based on the teachings of Jesus; 2) having the qualities demonstrated and
taught by Jesus , as love, kindness, humility, etc.
And second,
we cite
these few Biblical verses so
you know
the sources from which these inspired
comments come. ( As for an analogy these individuals might use to explain the benefits of
"membership" in this Body of
Christ where each members knows his role and carries it out for the common
good, think of a champion athletic team—say, this year's Chicago Blackhawks. )
For as in one body we have many parts, and all the parts do
not have the same function, so we,
though many, are one body in Christ. (Romans 12: 4, 5 )
Since we have gifts that differ
according to the grace given to us,let us exercise them. (Romans 12: 6)
For in one Spirit we were all
baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons, as we
were all given to drink of one Spirit. (I Corinthians 12: 13 )
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. (I Corinthians 12: 21-24 )
Living the truth in love, we
should grow in every way into Him who is the head, Christ, from whom the whole
body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, with the proper
functioning of each part, brings about the body's growth and builds itself up
in love. ( Ephesians 4: 15, 16 )
Last,
a few words from theologians to
help not only to visualize the Body but also
to explain, again by analogy, how God
can respond simultaneously to the
prayers of millions of Christians who live and breathe in this Body. In his book, " My Meditations of Saint
Paul ," The Rev. James E. Sullivan, writes: " When one of their [
Paul and Barnabas ] fingers was infected , their whole body went into a fever
to help the injured finger fight the infection.
That's how a living, healthy body reacted…Distance meant nothing.
" Another Christian made the case of God's ability to instantly orchestrate the unified functioning
of millions of cells in one human body .
He gave the example of how a loving
touch of a mother upon her baby's body can, with the speed of light,
communicate joy, love , and comfort to
the entire body and mind. As for how God can and does reply simultaneously to an infinite
number of prayers, this Christian gave
the example of an employee at an electrical power plant who , with one tug on a master switch, lights up an
infinite number of light bulbs.
Here,
in alphabetical order , are the
thoughts of individuals who were asked
to contribute—in brief or in length—to
this article:
Diane Adam, long-time, very active member, St. James Catholic Church, Arlington
Heights, IL … God has told us we are
all one with Him. He is the vine and we are His branches. We are one with all of our brothers and
sisters in Christ living and dead. Thinking about and then believing these
words is comforting. We are never alone and with Christ in us we become
stronger. The Eucharist is our and my identity. It centers me and joins me with
Catholics all over the world and even in heaven with my parents and other loved
ones.
Dr. Mike Atella, Christian psychotherapist, Schaumburg , IL… The concept of the Body
of Christ hasn't nearly achieved its potential. It has an amazing potential,
more than any other organization in the
world. There is plenty of room for the
church to flex its muscles
constructively to help our world become a better place for us all.
Julia DesRochers, PhD , food
scientist , Downers Grove, IL… I think of the body of Christ ….[as] the body that extends to all Christians who
proclaim Jesus as Lord and follow Him. I believe it also helps us have
tolerance for people who do this in
many different ways. Paul's description as the body parts all
having different but equally important roles is a very good way to grasp
that. When you understand what your role
is in the body of Christ, it allows you
to lose envy of others because we
each have separate gifts to bring, and they are all important, no matter how
small or big, subtle or well- recognized. This understanding helps us be humble
and also more loving and tolerant. The hard part is discerning what your
"body part" is! If you're an arm, but convinced you're the eyes, well
...many things can lead you off course if
you think eyes are more important than an arm. While you may compensate
and learn to be a decent eye, you'll never fulfill the full potential that God
created for you.
Another thing that
makes it hard [to discern our particular
part ] is that God places us in situations to use our gifts, and perhaps those
roles change over time and with different circumstances. Praying to discern this is critical. Be open to
how He wants to use you as a part of the Body of Christ to further His
kingdom! My role continues to grow and unfold, which is pretty cool.
Q. How do you visualize the
Mystical Body of Christ in human terms ?
A. We are all connected through Christ and the Sacraments. When
I look out into the congregation during Mass , I see the face of God
collectively as all the individuals at Mass.
Q. Who's in it, who's
not ?
A. For me, I include everyone . I believe in Matthew 25; Jesus is the ultimate judge of who will be
in the eternal Body of Christ. My role is to make sure all are welcome to be
with Christ and in Christ.
Q. Is it important
for all " bona fide" Christians to know
that they exist in this body and also to know what their role or function
is in it ?
A. The mystical lends me to believe
that not all is answered during our life on earth. I prefer to live in
the mystery.
Q. Can you describe any
experience in your life—pastoral or not—where you were an active member in this
body and how it might have achieved its
goals—secular or spiritual—more effectively ?
A. Every time I have the honor to
celebrate Mass I feel connected on various levels with the community of
believers. When I invite the worshippers to go in peace, I feel we are
sending each other out to be the body of Christ in our world today. Being
nourished and fed by the Word and Eucharist compels us to go out and create a
new world.
Sr. Joanne Grib, Sisters of
the Living Word …
Q. How do you visualize the body of Christ in human
terms?
A.
You're talking about 3 different
bodies: When He was His physical body;
then as us Christians—every last
one of us— the communion of saints ; and
also the Eucharist , the real Presence
of Him.
Q. So, all Christians of all
denominations belong to this body of
Christ ?
A. That's right.
Q. Then, this body is a universal body , and baptism is sort of
a credential to enter it?
A.
That's right.
Q. Does it really matter
whether a Christian is aware of being a member of the Body of Christ?
A. It's important to remember
because we are carrying Christ into the world . And whatever we do, people [ if
they know we are Christian ] see the act as being done by Christ. It's one of the most essential beliefs of the
church.
Q. Is it also
important to know what your role is in this body, so you can work for the common good ? For an analogous example, think of the Blackhawks winning the Stanley Cup: Surely,
it was vital for everybody on that team to know his precise role and how to
coordinate it with all the other team member roles.
A. Well, the Body of Christ does have so
very many members. But I believe that if
we are following the Ten Commandments, we are functioning in Christ's name.
Though not all of us may not be aware of being
in His Body, nevertheless this
is the truth , which takes hold of us whether we
believe it or not.
Q. Can you describe any personal experience where you behaved as
a member of the Body of Christ?
A.
At Mass every morning. We are a
community there. I feel that I'm a part of the life of everyone of those
people. There's no doubt about it !
Matthew Hahn , deacon at St.
James , Arlington Heights, scout leader,
and former U.S. Marine Corps sergeant…A former commandant of the
Marine Corps was fond of saying "Marines do the right thing, especially
when they know nobody is watching. We teach the same principle in scouting: "On my honor, I will do my
best , to do my duty to God and my country…to help other people. " Working together in this way, both the Marine Corps and scouting produce fine examples of people
who make up the Body of Christ. And, when this happens, wonderful, marvelous things happen . 
St. Paul uses a literary device by
personifying the members of the human
body and imagines the nobler members with the lesser ones. This serves
to reaffirm the truth, that members are
to have the same care for one another.
Jesus Christ is the head of
the body, the Church. This image shows
the relationship of Christ with the Church, to which he sends his grace in
abundance, bearing life to all its members. "The head," St. Augustine
says, "is our very Savior, who
suffered under Pontius Pilate and now, after rising from the dead, is seated at
the right hand of the Father. And His Body
( the Body of Jesus Christ ) is the Church. ..For the whole Church, made
up of the assembly of the faithful—for all the faithful are Christ's
members—has Christ as its head, who rules
His Body from on high. " (Enarrationes in Psalmos, 56, 1 ).
Brian Reynolds, musician and
secretary of Foundation for Children in
Need (FCN), an expansive outreach program
serving the needs of the rural
poor in India…
Q. How do you visualize the
Mystical Body of Christ, in human terms?
A. The visual I see when witnessing
the Mystical Body of Christ is when “love in action” is exercised. Love
exercised through prayer, compassion, kindness, patience, tenderness, mercy and
in loving service to others. We all have been blessed with many gifts and power
from God, Our Father, and as I
understand it, someday these special gifts we have today will come to an end,
but “love” goes on forever.
Q. Is it important for all
Christians to know that they exist in this body and also to know what their
role or function is in it?
A. I believe that that knowing we
are all one in His Body brings all believers closer together. (It also
strengthens our desire to evangelize to those who may not be part of His Body…
and, as St. Francis said, if necessary ,
use words.) Our awareness of being one in His Body helps each of us recognize
the love of Christ in ourselves and within others. As I attempt to live my life
out in the Body of Christ, I believe my role or function is continuously being
shaped and directed through every interaction God Blesses me to experience. Our
Father in Heaven is constantly pouring His love into our hearts, and it is up to each one of us to decide how
to share our abundance.
Q. How does FCN function as the
Body of Christ?
A. Well … we are using our God
given gifts to help support the poorest of the poor in Southern India. Each
volunteer, board member, sponsor and employee is working to help improve a
child’s life through the gift of an education and needed healthcare. As each
staff member fulfills their mission role, God’s love is realized through our
collective efforts to reach out and help these poor people. For any person that
has ever felt alone, afraid or challenged by life circumstances, the living
Body of Christ brings believers together in prayer and unity for that person in
need. This sincere response from others confirms that God is present in our
world and He is realized through our love for one another.
[ excerpts from a previous sermon of his ]
The
church is not an human institution . It is a living reality. It is alive, because the living
Christ is its head and lives in and through its members...
As
an institution or human organization,
the church can be efficient, successful, well organized ; but unless
Christ is its Savior and Head, unless Christ, by faith is living in its
members, it is not the church, the Body of Christ…
You
were born—reborn, once and for all—when
you were united with Christ's death and
resurrection in Holy Baptism. There is
one Baptism, one faith, one Lord, one God and Father. That is what the
Scriptures say. This is our unity in
the Body…
We
should say to ourselves, [ our
church ] is the Body I belong to. The Body needs me. I may
be only a little finger, but I am
important to the Body. We are not to consider ourselves inferior or inadequate.
We are not to despise our gift and be
discontent with our contribution. The Lord has place you in the Body and He
wants you to exercise your gift for the good of all. We are interdependent ! …
This
calls for appreciation of gifts which we have among yourselves.
Some of us are good at
exhortation…acts of mercy and compassion…service…leadership…financial
support…evangelism…teaching…craftsmanship…interpretation of the
Scripture…hospitality. These are all
gifts mentioned in the Scriptures. All
of us have the gift of love, which is the most important gift of all.
Fr. Paul Wachdorf…pastor, St.
Gregory the Great , Chicago…
Q. How do you visualize the
Mystical Body of Christ in human terms ? Who's in it, who's not ?
Does it have any real form ?
A. The Church , which is the
Mystical Body of Christ , can be found in three different forms. It exists on
this earth and is called the "Church Militant" because its members
struggle against sin, evil and injustice in the world. The Church suffering
refers to the souls in Purgatory who await the fullness of redemption. The
"Church Triumphant "is the Church in heaven. The real form of the
Mystical Body of Christ is the people who make up the Church and who seek to
build up the Mystical Body of Christ in our world.
Q. Is it important for all
" bona fide" Christians to know that they exist in this body and
also to know what their role or function is in it ?
A. I believe that it is important
for all Christians to claim membership in the Mystical Body of Christ and to
claim ownership for seeking to build up the Mystical Body of Christ by their
words and their actions. Every Christian needs to discern how he or she is a
part of the Mystical Body of Christ and what he or she can contribute to
building it up. The image of the Mystical Body of Christ reminds us that we are
all in this together. We are not lone wolves. We journey towards the Kingdom of
God together, and we have an obligation to partner with our Christian sisters
and brothers on this journey. I think it is very important for all “bona fide”
Christians to internalize this and live it out.
Q. Can you describe any
experience in your life—pastoral or not—where you were an active member in this
body and how it could have achieved its
goal—secular or spiritual—more effectively ?
A. As a Catholic priest for the
past 40 years and as the pastor of a parish, I have dedicated my life to being
an active member of the Mystical Body of Christ; and through my preaching and
teaching, through my witness and example, I have sought to encourage my
parishioners to do the same. Over the past 40 years, I have had countless
experiences where this has been the case. And I am always looking for new and
creative ways in which I can be a member of the Mystical Body of Christ myself
and in which I can encourage my people to do the same. Right now I think that
Pope Francis has the right idea … that as good Christians, we need to look out
for one another and to pay special care to the least of our sisters and
brothers.
Rick Warren, celebrated author
of the "Purpose Driven Life"and
founding pastor of Saddleback
Church in Lake Forest, CA…
One reason you
need to be connected to a church family is to fulfill your calling to serve
other believers in practical ways. The Bible says, “All of you together are Christ’s
body, and each one of you is a separate and necessary part of it” (1
Corinthians 12:27 ).
Your service is essential to the
Body of Christ—just ask any local church. Each of us has a role to play, and
every role is important. There is no small service to God; it all matters.
There are no insignificant
ministries in the church. Some are visible and some are hidden behind the
scenes, but all are valuable. Small or hidden ministries often make the biggest
difference. In my home, the most important light is not the large chandelier in
our dining room but the little night light that keeps me from stubbing my toe
when I get up at night.
There is no
correlation between size and significance. Every ministry matters because we
are all dependent on each other to function.
What happens when
one part of your body fails to function? You get sick. The rest of your body
suffers. Imagine if your liver decided to start living for itself: “I’m tired!
I don’t want to serve the body anymore! I want a year off just to be fed. I’ve
got to do what’s best for me! Let some other part take over.”
What would happen?
Your body would die. Today thousands of local churches are dying because of
Christians who are unwilling to serve. They sit on the sidelines as spectators,
and the Body suffers.
God calls you to a
service far beyond anything you could ever imagine. He created YOU for a life
of good deeds, which he has already prepared for you to do (see Ephesians
2:10). Whenever you serve others, you are actually serving God.
###
All
comments are welcome.
© 2015
Robert R. Schwarz
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