"Different Callings" 1 Corinthians 12: 12-31; Luke 4: 14-21

In this passage from Paul's letter to the Corinthians, he discusses how the body is made up of different parts, just as the church is made up of different parts.

Some people use this passage to emphasize the many different gifts that different people have, which is the theme that my sermon title reveals.  Others use this passage to argue for the unity of the church, with the emphasis being on the different gifts coming together to be part of one church.  Still others use this passage to build on the image of the body of Christ, with the reminder that God gives us the gifts to be Christ's presence in the world.  All of these themes seem fair to the text and to who the church is. Does one theme seem more persuasive to you?

The Luke passage is paired with the Corinthians passage in the lectionary.  It describes Jesus' announcement of his ministry in Luke.  Jesus references the Isaiah prophecy that reads:  “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.”  If we are building on the theme of the church is here to be Christ's presence in the world, the Luke passage becomes something of a template for what the church is supposed to use it's many gifts to do.

I have been reflecting on this story that William Willimon tells of visiting one of his favorite churches when he served as bishop in AL. The church serves breakfast to 200 homeless people every morning. One visit he noticed a man in the kitchen washing dishes, up to his elbows in the dishwasher (the church believes that the homeless ought to be served on the nice china of the church). Willimon noticed that the man washing the dishes was a lawyer, a member of the largest, most affluent Methodist church in their conference.

“I think it's wonderful that you are here, washing dishes for the homeless,” Willimon said to him.

“Good for you,” he mumbled, not looking up from his dishes.

“have you always enjoyed ministry with the homeless,” Willimon asked.

“Who told you I enjoyed working with the homeless?” He asked. “Have you met any of the homeless out there? Most of them are crazy, so addicted or so messed up that nobody, not even their family, wants them home.”

“Well, Uh, I think that makes it all more remarkable that you are here doing this,” he said. “how did you get here.”

“I'm here because Jesus put me here. How did you get here?” Journal of Preachers, Volume XXXII, Number 4. Pentecost, 2009 (9)

This sermon is part of the mini-series on call, so I'm looking at the passages through the lens of God calling us.  

What are your thoughts?