Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets,
third teachers, then miracles,then gifts of healing, of helping,
of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues.
[1 Corinthians 12: 27–28]
During lockdown I have heard many people say that they are really missing church. Generally, they have stopped saying it now as I usually follow that statement by challenging what they mean. The church is not a building or a set of activities: it is the people. A strong church is not destroyed by the closing of a building or by being unable to meet together physically.
We are the church, and as such we are a revelation of God. Jesus is God in human form, and we are the body of Christ now on earth. We are in Christ’s stead and are therefore God’s image, as seen in Jesus. That is a huge responsibility! When others look at the church, the people of God, they see God. Are we showing God to the world? Are we showing God as God really is? Or are we showing our own humanity more? As church buildings begin and continue to reopen, we need to remember that as God’s revelation to the world, we, the people, have a huge responsibility.
Teresa of Avila puts it best:
Christ has no body but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
Compassion on this world,
Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good,
Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world.
Yours are the hands, yours are the feet,
Yours are the eyes, you are his body.
Christ has no body now but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
compassion on this world.
Christ has no body now on earth but yours.
– – – – –
Loving God,
give us the grace, the love, the compassion and the strength to be your body on earth.
Help us to reveal who you truly are to others and draw them to your love. Amen
Download a pdf of this Prayer for the Week here.
Prayer for the Week for August 2020 written by Revd Claire Rawlinson
Image: crucifix, photo by Wonderlane on Unsplash
