Lectionary Reflection
Year C, Epiphany 2
Standard (Episcopal) Lectionary – Revised
Common Lectionary
New Testament Lesson
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1 Corinthians 12: 1-11(Standard
and RCL)
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Now about spiritual gifts, brothers,
I do not want you to be ignorant. You know that when you
were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and
led astray to mute idols. Therefore I tell you that no
one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus
be cursed," and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except
by the Holy Spirit. There are different kinds of gifts,
but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service,
but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working,
but the same God works all of them in all men. Now to
each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for
the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit
the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge
by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same
Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit,
to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to
another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking
in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the
interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one
and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just
as he determines.
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| New
Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989
by the Division of Christian Education of the
National Council of the Church of Christ in the
USA, and used by permission. |
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Reflection
on 1 Corinthians 12: 1-11
by John G. Gibbs, PhD
For once the
lectionary for the day lists four texts, all of which have something
in common. All 4 are visionary texts, loaded with symbols for
fragile souls, freighted with more meaning than meets the eye.
Each of the 4 pictures makes its own emphasis: here our vision
of God, there God's view of us, here the Church's vision of
Jesus glorified, there our vision of "the common good." In every
case it's theological imagination at work as if our very lives
depend on it.
The New Testament
portrait in today's exhibition of theological imagination deserves
more attention than time now allows. It's the apostolic vision
of "the common good" as portrayed in the familiar Pauline image
of the body and its members, with Christ as the Head of the
Church. Truly spiritual gifts, genuinely charismatic persons
all are "activated" by the same Spirit, the same Lord, the same
God. "To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the
common good." Personal faith is never private, for it exists
only in a public body "for the common good."
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John
Gibbs, PhD, a retired theologian, attended Trinity Episcopal
Church, Park Rapids, MN, when he originally wrote this reflection
in 1998. John and we welcome your comments. Please address
your comments or additional reflections to John
Gibbs or any MEESC
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