Using your gifts to build up the Body of Christ

Hearing the Church referred to as the “Body of Christ” is common. The disciples themselves referred to it by this title multiple times throughout the New Testament. Hearing this title so often can result in another life-long Catholic ideal that becomes mentally glossed over, or only just scratched. If we aren’t the “obvious” parts of the body (i.e. the mouth, which preaches, or the hands, which serve) we can see ourselves as unimportant in building up the Church. Unfortunately, that leaves many of us feeling discouraged or “not cut-out” for the task.

St. Paul in his letter to the Ephesians gives us an opportunity to dig deeper: “…living the truth in love, we should grow in every way into him who is the head, Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, with the proper functioning of each part, brings about the body’s growth and builds itself up in love” (Eph. 4:15-16). Ooo, ligaments! We are all called to build up the body. On that note, let’s get visceral, shall we?

Are you good at holding people together by helping them overcome their differences? Perhaps you are a ligament. Are you good at helping people filter out toxic waste in their lives? Perhaps you are the liver. Are you good at listening? Perhaps you are the ears. Are you good at helping people digest the Word of the Lord? Perhaps you are the intestines. Do you love cooking and sharing that food with others? Perhaps you are the taste buds. Do you build relationship by being active? Perhaps you are the legs. Do you help people reach their spiritual goals? Perhaps you are the tip-toes. Do you love learning about the Church’s teaching? Perhaps you are the cerebrum. Do you think of great ideas? Perhaps you are the frontal cortex. Are you good at reaching out to others? Perhaps you are the arms. Are you good at helping others let things go? Perhaps you are *ahem* the colon.

You get the point. We could keep going, because we are all “wonderfully made” (Ps. 139:14), but we hope this sparks some ideas for what role you play in the Body. The call to holiness and evangelization is not an easy one, but it is universal. As a couple, we have a mutual love for good food, good friends, and fellowship. Whenever we invite someone over, they never leave our home hungry. We take time to personally invest and help those individuals feel heard, valued, and cherished. In this small way, we use our gifts of cooking and baking to build up the Body.

We have friends who have organized small fundraisers for those in need of assistance during hardship. Others have organized meal trains for families after the birth or death of a loved one. Some use their artistic talents to add beauty to the Church by creating sacred art or renovating statues and altars. Those who keep the grounds and facilities clean and running also play a vital role in the Body of Christ.

The Lord made each of us with unique gifts and talents. Some may be obvious while others are subtle. All have merit and all have value! We encourage you to take time with the Lord and meditate on this truth. First, let your Father who created you, your Savior who gave his life for you, and the Holy Spirit who sustains you, love you as you are. We can do nothing apart from God, who is love itself. After that, ask God: What are the gifts you have given me? How would you like me to use these gifts? We recommend spending time with Eph. 4:1–16 to help you discover your role in the Body of Christ. 

These are difficult times. However, it is in the most difficult of times that the greatest saints emerge. Let us allow the Lord to teach us how to be saints by using the gifts he has placed within us. In this way, he will show us our vital role in the Body of Christ.