“We are one body, one body in Christ, and we do not stand alone. We are one body, one body in Christ. And He came that we might have life.”
These words written by John Michael Talbot in the song We Are One Body do well to connect all of the readings for this weekend. In 1 Corinthians 12, we hear Paul explain that we are Christ’s body, and individually part of it. The many parts of the Body of Christ can include being an apostle, prophet, teacher, a person who does mighty deeds, assists, does administration, etc. The reality is that the Body of Christ is not a limited reality but an expansive one, made up of many parts. The most important thing we can do is to discern our part, our gifts that God has given us to use for the building up of His kingdom. None of us have all the gifts. That is why it is so important that we have each other and build up the Body of Christ together as one.
Then we enter into the Gospel where we hear Jesus proclaim a scroll from the prophet Isaiah that describes our mission as other-Christs in the world…“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.” As this was fulfilled in the life of Jesus Christ, the GOOD NEWS is that all of us have received the same Holy Spirit that enables us to live this life in the world! It is quite amazing indeed. He came that we might have life! As I am writing this, my sister, Emily is giving birth to her newest son. Why do we come into the world? As Christ came to offer glad tidings, healing, good news and new life, we too are called to do the same.
As we will celebrate my installation as Pastor on Monday, January 24 at 7:00pm, I thank you for your many prayers that have led up to this day. As we celebrate the reality of pastor, I ask that you take a step back and truly celebrate the Body of Christ here at St. Francis de Sales. It is a blessed community. I am one part of this expansive Body of Christ we call the Church. You have your part too! I pray I can help you find your gifts, your part in the Body of Christ so that we can join together and live the Gospel in His name!
Thank you for being part of the Body of Christ,
Fr. Jeremy (your almost Pastor 
)
