Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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 Holy Communion: Healing of  Body and Soul

 1 Cor 10: 14-22

Verse of Focus: 
" The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.
1 Corinthians 10:16‭-‬17

In today's society we have seen the incredible benefit of diversity. Our country a known "melting pot" so to speak, owes it's biggest innovations and knowledge of the world to the diverse people who came here. However, with that same diversity comes challenges learning to live with one another and remember what is truly important. Our focus and priorities can very immensely person to person. In the same way the church compromised of unique people has different priorities, weakness, and gifts. As we read in the passage today, the apostle Paul stresses the power of Jesus' sacrifice and the communion we partake in, which unifies us and symbolizes are calling and identity.

The church of Corinth was one of the first churches Paul founded and it came with a lot of challenges as it was filled with modern day Mediterranean and Greek people, yet under the govern of Rome. Pagan worship and practices was the norm, yet there were people who proclaimed Christ.  They clearly did not behave or think in the ways of God. Sexual immorality and idolatry (as specified in v. 14) was rampant. The church at Corinth lacked self awareness and thought little of their sin. They had at the same time fixated on little things as the biggest issues for the church, like attire. Clearly though their diversity in origin brought unique people, they had lost sight of what matters.

Paul explicitly calls out the Corinthian church on their sins of pride, sexual immorality, idolatry, and a disregard of living holy. However he reminds them in the verse of focus of a unifying force and symbol of change. Through Christ there is neither Jew nor Gentile!  Together when eating the bread and wine in the Lord's Supper, it represented partaking in one mission and remembering our Savior.  Our church symbolically takes part in the body and blood Christ and we are healed by the sacrifice on the cross of Jesus. When we confess our sins together we acknowledge we are sinful and broken and are equally condemned by the evil within us. Yet, as the prophet Isaiah writes by His stripes we are healed! May we learn from the mistakes of the Corinthian people and never forget the communion we take is not merely food, but a symbol of putting our differences aside to represent our Holy and loving God. Let us not fixate on foolish things or belittle living as holy and blameless people. Instead, let us repent daily,  partake in the holy communion with the community of God's believers, and seek His will alone

Prayer
Thank you Jesus for dying on the cross for me and my sins. Thank you for healing my body and soul and forgive me for my wayward ways. Help me to examine myself and seek your ways as I partake in the Holy Communion 

 Thought for the Day
 What are the things and opinions I fixate on that are not important in the views of God's will and his kingdom, yet I make it that?


 Sheeba Chacko, Staten Island Marthoma church

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