By Deacon Timothy Siburg
Revised Common Lectionary reflection, 3rd Sunday after the Epiphany, Year C
January 26, 2025
Key Verse: “Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.” -1 Corinthians 12:27
For many people of a certain younger generation, an earworm got stuck in our heads in the mid-2000s. The song is, of course, “We’re All in in This Together,” by Matthew Gerrard and Robbie Nevil. It was the central song of High School Musical. This 2006 song is hard to forget. The song comes to mind this week as we think about Paul’s words to the Corinthians.
We’re all in this together as the Body of Christ, Paul says, and everyone has a role. As Paul says, a body is not made of one, but of many (v. 12:14). God’s mission isn’t entrusted to just one person or to a few. It’s all of our work, together. It’s the work and mission we share in our callings and responsibilities as Children of God, disciples and stewards. And we live this out through our many and various unique vocations.
We’re all in this together because of the work and promise of God in Christ and the movement of the Spirit. Paul writes, “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” (v. 12:13). The Spirit unites us and brings us together out of our uniqueness, with our full selves. The Spirit makes possible the fuller community of the baptized who are the living and breathing Body of Christ today.
This is a stewardship lesson and reminder. Out of our uniqueness, we are entrusted with particular gifts and responsibilities that are best expressed in community and in relationships. As the old Sunday school song reminds us, “The church is the people.” It’s the gathered body of disciples, but we know and need to acknowledge that God’s people won’t always get along or agree. We all have different gifts, passions, experiences and perspectives, but the love and peace of Christ holds us together.
From a stewardship and discipleship perspective, this is a great week to reflect on both the gifts and challenges of this reality. Given that Monday of this week will bring both the inauguration of a new U.S. president and the observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, it might be helpful to preach about how we are called into relationship together.
Since this is also the beginning of a new year, such sentiments may also be appropriate for the installation of new Congregation Council members or to open an annual meeting.
If we really are all in this together, perhaps a sermon could ask how well we are living out our common identity. Are we healthy? What areas need attention? Where are the hurts? Where are the joys? Paul writes, “If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it” (1 Corinthians 12:26-27). E
It’s helpful to remember Jesus’ words in this week’s gospel lesson, when he reads from Isaiah, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor” (Luke 4:18-19). This is God’s work. The work of the Kin-dom of God. And it’s work we’re called to witness to, but also to join in as stewards and disciples. When we do this, we show through word and deed, and all that we have and all that we are, that we truly are all in this together as the Body of Christ.
Questions for Reflection:
- As we think about being the Body of Christ today, what does that feel like? What might God be calling us to wonder about, given today’s unique challenges and questions?
- We’re each stewards of God’s love. What might be possible through our collective body of Christ, as a gathered body of stewards of God’s love?
- Given this new year, what might God be inviting you to try and focus on as the Body of Christ now in your context?
In Worship and Congregational Life
This week’s lessons present an opportunity to affirm everyone’s being a part of the faith community through a litany in worship. Such a prayer based on the words from the Epistle reading could be especially useful in a rite of installation for new council members. Or, with an emphasis on working as the Body of Christ, the prayer could open a congregational meeting or incorporated in a confession or thanksgiving for baptism. It might look like this:
L: We’re all in this together as the Body of Christ gathered in __(name your context)___.
C: If one of us suffers, we all suffer together. If one of us is honored, we all rejoice together.
L: We are the body of Christ and individually members of it. What does this mean?
C: That we each have unique gifts, talents, and strengths entrusted to us by God to live fully and abundantly, in part through caring for all of God’s beloved.
L: Some of you are apostles, priests, teachers, those with power and authority, healers, helpers, leaders of all kinds, speakers, and learners.
C: We each have unique vocations, entrusted to us by God. May we lean into God’s call and invitation and live out the promises of our baptisms.
L: Together, let us strive for the greater gifts as God’s people as _____ (name your congregation)_____.
C: We commit to this, this year, and we ask God to help and guide us always. Amen.
With Youth and Children
Part of stewardship is recognizing and naming gifts that we each have. This week would be a good time to invite the younger saints in worship to share about a gift they see in each other. This could be a powerful children’s sermon time where the kids show the way that they see God’s love being made real through one another. Once gifts have been recognized, invite the younger saints or the whole congregation to pray together- giving thanks to God for all the gifts named and remembered, and to show gratitude for what God has provided; and to ask for guidance and wisdom for the year ahead to continue to grow in these gifts and to use them for the sake of God’s love made real for one another.
About the Author
Deacon Timothy Siburg serves as the Director for Evangelical Mission, Innovation, and Stewardship of the Nebraska Synod, ELCA. He also currently serves on the Stewardship of Life Institute Board and has previously written and worked for the Ecumenical Stewardship Center. When not out and about the Nebraska Synod on a given Sunday, he can be found at home at Salem Lutheran Church in Fontanelle, Nebraska serving as organist, pianist, and choir director and serving alongside his wife, the Rev. Allison Siburg in leading worship. Together they have two young daughters who fill life with joy, humor, and constant surprises.
Previous reflections for Epiphany 3C:
2019 – One body, one divine dance
2013 –A feast of Word and words
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