1 Corinthians 12:4-7
Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
Reflection
‘Every member a minister’ was the tagline of the Presbyterian church where I served as an intern in Seattle, USA.
Every Church member, indeed every disciple of Jesus, is called to serve / minister, but as Paul reminded the community in Corinth, we are each equipped to serve in different ways for the common good. Yet each variety of service, shape of ministry, is a manifestation of God’s Spirit within us. I believe it is helpful to understand that being a disciple of Jesus is a constant journey of discovering how we are called to minister/serve for the common good in the evolving context of our lives and world.
One specific form of service asked of us as tutors in the Scottish College is to journey with students through their initial formal formation to become Ministers of Word and Sacraments, supporting them to discover and enable the manifestation of God’s Spirit within them. This service is a delight, a puzzle, and a revelation. The delight is in seeing potential, ability and confidence growing in students. The puzzle is working out how to best unlock the potential, ability and confidence within each student. The revelation is in catching glimpses of how the Spirit is moving and potentially shaping the Church in ways which are new and unfamiliar.
Whatever title or shape our ministry/service takes as disciples of Jesus, it is a lifelong daily journey of discovery with delights, puzzles and revelations, as the Spirit manifests itself in us for the common good of the world.
“ Yours are the hands, yours are the feet, yours are the eyes, you are his body. Christ has no body now on earth, but yours.” (Teresa of Avila)
Prayer
Holy One,
in the variety of tasks, roles and duties ahead of me today,
I offer to you the work of my hands, my feet, my eyes
to share in the work of your Body to grow your Realm of Love throughout the Earth.
Amen