Eastertide

May 25, 2023
Scripture Reading:

1 Corinthians 12:3b-13
Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking by the Spirit of God ever says ‘Let Jesus be cursed!’ and no one can say ‘Jesus is Lord’ except by the Holy Spirit.
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. To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the discernment of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses.
For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.

We all have a part to play, and we all must work together as one. That means some of us must be enablers to ensure that everyone feels comfortable in filling their role. That is why education is so important, education that complements the innate skills and talents of each person.  I remember one woman I worked with who applied for public assistance after having a baby when she was a teenager, and the father had disappeared. She was smart, friendly, and she said she had always wanted to be a beautician. Hers was one of the easiest situations with which I worked. We set in motion the training she needed and provided care for her child. She completed the classes and went to work in a salon, and soon, she no longer needed any help. I only saw her when she cut my hair. She eventually had her own salon and rented booths to several hairdressers. A couple of years later, I was transferred to another job in another city. I canceled a scheduled haircut because I was moving and thanked her for serving me so well over the past years. The next day I received a bouquet of flowers from her, thanking me for being her client and wishing me well in my new job. I thanked God for the opportunity to see her blossom into the person she was created to be. I wonder how many young women whose hair she cut benefited from her wise counsel and example.

Prayer:  Lord, help us all to work together toward the benefit of all. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.