Raise Up Your Hands

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

 

~~~ Nehemiah 8:2-4a, 5-6, 8-10 ~~~ Psalm 19 ~~~ 1 Corinthians 12:12-30 ~~~ Luke 1:1-4; 4:14-21~~~

 

Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.

 

This Sunday is the only time we hear a reading from the prophet Nehemiah

in our three year cycle of readings.

This chapter gives us much information of what it was like

when the priest was before the community.

The presider was standing higher than the people

so that he could be seen by as many as possible.

 

As the scroll was unrolled...

...all the people rose.
Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God,
and all the people, their hands raised high, answered,
“Amen, amen!”

The reading from the scroll lasted from daybreak until midday;

can you imagine people today staying in church for the length of time.

 

 "Today is holy to the LORD your God..."

One of the blessings passed down to us in the scripture writings

is confirmation of what we believe.

 

Today Luke tells Theophilus...

 

'...I too have decided,
after investigating everything accurately anew,
to write it down in an orderly sequence for you,
most excellent Theophilus,
so that you may realize the certainty of the teachings
you have received.'

Luke was validating what they all believed.

He was a scholar, educated, trusted.

There have always been those who understood the value

of recording down that which they have witnessed.

They were chronicling history as it was happening

right before their very eyes.

 

Way before Ancestry dot com people kept records.

Luke assures Theophilus that he has accurately written things down

so that he too could value the teachings even more.

 

Therefore when Luke recounts Jesus' reading from the scroll

we too can believe that Jesus was in the power of the Spirit.

 

It is through this same power that we too are in the Spirit.

We too have been given the Spirit.

 

Paul writes of the many parts of the same body...

we are all given to drink of the same Spirit.

  

 

The same Spirit that descended upon Jesus  

 he in turn sent to us.
This Spirit unites as one...as part of the Body of Christ.
Though many we are one and we are all valued as a part of this body.
There is no part that is more or less important than any other part.

It is through the Spirit that we are united into this one Body.
Today is holy to the LORD your God.
 

 We too contribute to the holiness of this day
for we are One Body.

Let us live believing that we are a vital part of the
Body of Christ.
We are all One Body in Christ.
Raise your hands high up in praise.

Drink of the One Spirit

~~~ 1 Cor 12:2-14, 27-31a ~~~ Psalm 100 ~~~Luke 7: 11-17 ~~~

 

"...in one Spirit we were all baptized into one Body...

....all given to drink of one Spirit...
...Now the body is not a single part, but many..."

God has blessed us in a special way.

The Body of Christ would not be whole without each of us.

We are each a vital part of the Body of Christ.

Through Baptism we were welcomed into the whole body.

 

We have been given gifts as God see fit for us.

If he knows each hair upon our head;

then certainly he will bestow on us our unique gifts.

The body functions much more efficiently

when all the parts a working as they were designed.

 

Just as each ingredient of a recipe contributes to the tasty dish.

It does not matter if you are the main ingredient or the dash of salt;

you are an essential part for the dish.

 

Paul goes on to talk about those who are the apostles,

the prophets, the teachers,

and those blessed with the gifts of healing,

assistance, administration, and speaking in tongues.

 

Paul offers these words of encouragement...

"...Strive eagerly for the greatest spiritual gifts."

 

While you will always be an essential part of the Body of Christ;

the unique part you are may change over time.

If there is a spiritual gift you desire;

 ask for it

during your prayer time.

 

If you are not given the specific gift you want;

 God may just give you new insight.

 He may help you see how to better use the gifts

 he has already given to you.

 

 

Being a part of the Body of Christ we can sing with the psalmist today...

"We are his people: the sheep of his flock."

 

His kindness endures forever, and his faithfulness forever.

 

He cares about us so much that he raises the only son of a grieving mother.

He tells this widowed woman 'Do not weep.'

 

Being a part of the Body of Christ we have value.

Being a part of the Body of Christ we are loved and cared for

by Christ himself.

 

Being a part of the Body of Christ we share in the same Spirit.

Know that whatever part you have within this Body

you are essential...

you are a unique part.

May we look upon those we meet as a member of the

same body...the Body of Christ.