Day Eight: Holy Spirit, Soul of Christ’s Mystical Body
FIRST LETTER OF PAUL TO THE CORINTHIANS: As a body is one though it has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free, and we were all given to drink of one Spirit. Now the body is not a single part, but many. If a foot should say, "Because I am not a hand I do not belong to the body," it does not for this reason belong any less to the body. Or if an ear should say, "Because I am not an eye I do not belong to the body," it does not for this reason belong any less to the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? But as it is, God placed the parts, each one of them, in the body as he intended. If they were all one part, where would the body be? But as it is, there are many parts, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, "I do not need you," nor again the head to the feet, "I do not need you."..... But God has so constructed the body ...so that there may be no division in the body, but that the parts may have the same concern for one another. If (one) part suffers, all the parts suffer with it; if one part is honored, all the parts share its joy. Now you are Christ's body, and individually parts of it. (I Cor. 12:12-21,24b-31a)
INTERCESSORY PRAYERS: Holy Spirit, unite us in one body in Christ. With your armor of light, help us stand firm against the powers of darkness and despair. With your truth buckled around our waist, your righteousness steeled across our chest, and the hope of salvation as our helmet, make us vigilant against the forces of chaos and division. With the shield of faith and the sword of the word of God, empower us to walk always as children of the light until we form that “perfect man which is Christ come to full stature.” (Ephesians 4:13) Holy Spirit, Soul of Christ’s Mystical Body, heal our brokenness, cleanse our sinfulness, strengthen our weakness, fill us with life. Mind of Christ, deepen our faith, renew our hope and increase our love for God and neighbor. Transform us into worthy members of Christ’s Body, that our eyes, our ears, our lips, our hands, and our hearts and all our various members might worthily serve the crucified and risen Christ, who reigns as Lord forever. Come, Holy Spirit.
Come, Spirit of Jesus. Make us one body in Christ.
