Many Members, One Body: Shared Sacrifice in the Body of Christ

Callie E. Swanlund
21 August 2011
Proper 16, Year A, RCL
Church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Philadelphia, PA

It isn’t often that I find the gospel in the media. Sure, there are stories of people helping strangers and caring for animals, non-profits working to bring about an end to hunger and a cure for AIDS, groups doing grassroots organizing to make a change in the world . . . but they aren’t usually the front page stories. Or, in today’s internet-oriented world, such stories of gospel aren’t the most emailed, posted, or commented-upon pieces. But when I read Warren Buffett’s popular op-ed piece in the New York Times this week, what I immediately noticed was gospel.

For those of you who didn’t see the opinion piece, billionaire investor and philanthropist Warren Buffett suggested increasing the tax rate for the “mega-rich” - the top 2% wealthiest people in the country - to be comparable to those in lower tax brackets and to help decrease the national deficit. He called for true shared sacrifice, not simply continuing to place the burden on the shoulders of those who are already carrying heavy loads. Shared sacrifice - this is what Jesus called for time and again. Jesus called his disciples away from their jobs, homes, and families. Jesus told the rich man to sell all of his possessions and give the money to the poor. Jesus’ disciples are sent out without anything, trusting in the good of others that all of their needs will be provided for. Jesus said, “Take up your cross and follow me,” asking us to be willing to sacrifice all - even our lives - in order to spread the good news of radical love and peace throughout the world.

Comedian Jon Stewart of the Daily Show showed a montage of responses to Mr. Buffett’s suggestion, including claims that the rich were being portrayed as evil or lazy, and references to the poor as animals or people taking advantage of the government. Though Stewart used a lot of humor in his segment, he pointed out U.S. income disparity as worse than many third world countries, which is no laughing matter.

It’s easy for us to slip into an “us versus them” mentality, whether we’re comparing different classes, political parties, sports fans, or types of Christians. But in this morning’s passage from Paul’s letter to the Romans [12:1-8], we are reminded that we are all members of one body. “For as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function,” Paul writes, “so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another.”

As members of one body - whether it be a national body or a religious body or the body of all humankind - we must work together and help one another out. None of us is more or less valuable than another. Making distinctions between the “productive class” and the “moocher class” - as one media outlet did this week - is akin to saying that the mouth mooches while the hands do all the work. We know this to be entirely untrue. Without the mouth, we would surely perish. All members are necessary parts of the whole.

Each of us has different gifts, and we are called - Paul reminds us - according to those gifts, “to use our bodies as prophets, ministers, teachers, exhorters, givers, leaders, and in acts of cheerful compassion.” St. Martin’s is a thriving community because of the wide array of gifts people bring. Paul writes, “I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” We are asked to serve with our bodies, minds and spirits for the common good. In this, Paul notes that each part of the body works “not to bring glory to itself or to meet only its needs, but to ensure the healthy functioning of the whole system.”1

At times, some members of the body need help from other members. Last summer, I encountered a man with no arms in an electric wheelchair, using his feet to operate the chair controls. I rushed ahead to open the door for him, but he simply grinned and said, “There’s a reason why God blessed me with such a large schnoz” while pressing the automatic door panel with his nose. I was amazed and humbled by the realization that what I perceived as a disadvantage or handicap was not experienced as such by this man.

During the times when we are ill or weak or depressed, we rely on other members of our community to help share our load, knowing that we would gladly do the same in return. We are all connected and rely on one another for our daily existence. As Warren Buffett stated, “Everyone in this country owes their good fortune in some way to the rest of the country.” One way we can easily reflect on our interdependence and connectedness is taking a moment before meals. The food on our table is often the product of many different people: growers, pickers, packers, drivers, stockers, preparers, and more. Take a moment before each meal to give thanks for those whose lives have intersected with your own through that meal, for those members of the body who you depend on for sustenance.

When I told my mom about my sermon topic for today, she warned me, “Just don’t take sides!” I assured her I wouldn’t, adding, “just Jesus’ side.” This isn’t a matter of politics, this is a matter of discipleship. We need to care for one another and share the burden, especially in these tough economic times. When you encounter others in the world, may you see them as a fellow sisters or brothers in Christ. Paul exhorts us, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

May you be transformed to practice the radical love Jesus taught us, to use your gifts generously for the good of all, to shoulder some of the burden, to recognize yourself as part of a whole.

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1 Rochelle A. Stackhouse, Feasting on the Word.