The body is one

and no one is expendable.

In this Sunday’s gospel, Simeon had been waiting a long time to see the messiah. God promised him that privilege. I don’t know what the messiah’s arrival meant to Simeon — maybe liberation from Roman occupiers, maybe peace. But when Simeon looked at the infant Jesus he realized that before messianic victory or peace, there would be more trouble. He said: “This child is destined for the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed…”

Like Simeon, we are seeing trouble too.

There is not one way to respond to the trouble. As St. Paul said in last week’s second reading, the body is one and has many members. Its many members have many gifts, callings, abilities, needs, responsibilities and opportunities. All of these will shape different responses.

There is not one single right way to respond. But there is one good way to prepare. That is to remember that the good news we embrace is different from the message coming from this administration: that some people are inherently unworthy and expendable.

That is not the message of the gospel. It is not St. Paul’s message. He writes that no member of the body should say of another member, “I have no need of you.” The eye should not say it of the hand. The head should not say it of the feet. The most humble member is indispensable.

In our faith communities, there will be some who protest and march. Others will work behind the scenes, caring for those who are victimized or terrorized. Some will go to court, lobby legislators, speak a quiet “well-placed” word or two, staff an office, make art or music or a strategic investment. I am writing these posts and connecting with other like-minded people while I try to figure out what’s next for me. Others will work to build up the communities which all of us will need for prayer, reflection, celebration and consolation. All are necessary. All are indispensable.

There is not one right way to respond. There is one good way to prepare. It is to remember that the body is one and has many members and none is expendable. And let us pray for one another.

Peace.

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Photo by Natalia Blauth on Unsplash