One Body

THEME: Steadfast as One Body (Feast of the Corpus Christi)

First Reading: Ezekiel 37:1-10

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:12-27

Psalm Reading: Psalm 102: 18-22;28

Gospel Reading: John 4:5-7; 19 - 26

Homily by: Fr. Charles Henry Atayde

Let me start off by saying how interesting and powerful the readings today are. It starts with the fascinating story of the Valley of Dry Bones in Ezekiel, followed by Paul's reminder to the Corinthians that every body part has a purpose, just like every member of the Body of Christ. It caps off with the Gospel story of Jesus Christ with the Samaritan woman in the well...where he tells us that true worshipers worship the Lord in spirit and in truth.

So meaty. So rich. So wonderfully strung together. 

Fr. Charles touched mostly on the story of the Valley of Dry Bones and he pointed out a lot of pretty interesting points from it. I'm so glad I took notes the entire time - it was truly an anointed homily as he spoke one powerful revelation after another. Here's a summary of my notes from today's service. 

The Valley of Dry Bones and How I Can Relate it to My Life

1. The dry bones can represent our lives when the Spirit of God is absent from us. 

When we do not have the word of God, when we do not go to church, when we do not pray, when we do not spend time in His presence, our spirit will thirst...our spirit will dry up. 

2. The moment we hear His call and take heed, we slowly become whole again.

In Ezekiel 37:4-6, the Lord tells Ezekiel to speak to the dry bones - "Dry bones, listen to the word of the Lord! I will put breath into you, and you will come to life." When he spoke, the bones heard and slowly worked their way to becoming whole again.

3. During the process of becoming whole again, there will be a rattling, a shaking, a reshuffling...

This is not something to be afraid of. Sometimes, the "breakage" is so bad that becoming whole again entails some painful reshuffling. Power through it. By the grace and the strength of God, you will get through it.

4. By being breathed upon by new life, we become born again - brand new!

The dry bones were already whole and complete, but they were still dead. Then in Ezekiel 37: 9-10 "Come, oh breath from the four winds! Breathe into these dead bodies so they may live again. Then breath came into their bodies as commanded and they came to life and stood up on their feet - a great army."

Being born again is something to rejoice about! We were once like dry bones. But because of the Lord, we are now full of life. 

ADDITIONAL NOTES

1. Develop a listening ear. Allow the Lord to speak to you. In prayer, when we are finished asking...be silent an listen.

2. When you pray, use the word of God. When things go wrong in your life, confess the word of God. It is more powerful this way. 

(Somebody asked me how to do this and I said there are many ways, one of them is as simple as googling a certain Bible Verse for a certain situation. If there's a will, there's a way!)

3. Learn to worship Him in spirit and in truth. 

When we sing worship songs, don't just thoughtlessly sing them. Meditate on them and make them true in your life. When worshiping in the Spirit, you flow, your soul is refreshed and renewed. And when the soul prospers, the body prospers!

4. We have to be united as ONE BODY. 

Though we have different roles and specialties, we belong to one body. Unity in diversity and power in differences. 

I can expound some more but it will take us a while to truly digest everything as learning the word of God is a daily adventure. I share this with you praying that a seed will be planted and that this seed will be nurtured and grow in your life.

To God be the glory!