22 October 2022

We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine, by people’s trickery, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming. But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and knitted together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body’s growth in building itself up in love.
From Ephesians 4: 7-16, NRSV

The writer is making it clear to the Ephesians that they now need to be at a stage of greater maturity in their faith. It is time to grow up and accept responsibility for the individual part that each person needs to play. We are familiar from Paul’s letter to the Corinthians with the image of the body as a symbol for the Church. A new aspect here is that Christ is to be the head of that body, giving it thought and direction. Every other part of the body is interdependent. We all know how much the whole of our physical body is affected when even one small part such as a tooth goes wrong. The writer of this letter wants everyone to understand that however small a part they might have to play, the rest of the body needs them and cannot function fully without them.

• • Is the body a good symbol for the Church?
  • What part does God want you to play in building up his Body?

Reflect on how your part of the Body of Christ may have changed over time and give thanks for how you have been able to contribute to the strength of that Body. You may also wish to pray for Saint John-Paul II – whose feast is celebrated today – in thanksgiving for the part he played in supporting and developing the Body of Christ.