"Different Members, But One Body:

A Call To Interdependence"

Sermon for Third Sunday of the Year, cycle C, Jan 24-25, 1998

by Most Rev. Dr. Robert M. Bowman, Presiding Bishop, United Catholic Church

Nehemiah 8: 2-10

Psalm 19: 8-10, 15

1 Corinthians 12: 12-30

Luke 1: 1-4, 4: 14-21

The epistle reading for today is a direct continuation of last week’s reading. Does anyone remember what it was about? ... That’s right, spiritual gifts. There are different gifts, but the one Spirit. In today’s reading from 1st Corinthians, Paul goes on to compare us to members of a body. He points out how no part of the body is self-sufficient. Each member is dependent on the others. During this analogy, Paul talks about eyes, ears, the nose, hands, the head, feet, and the lowly or "less presentable" members.

But there’s a part of the body Paul doesn’t discuss — elbows. Now elbows are absolutely critical to this discussion of interdependence. Have you ever considered what life would be like without them?

Elbows can be used to illustrate the difference between heaven and hell. (Slightly different analogies have often been used by others to explain heaven and hell, and I’m sure you’ve heard them. But I’m going to give you my version anyway.)

A noted theologian died and went to the pearly gates, where St. Peter welcomed him warmly. The theologian said that he was anxious to enter heaven, but he said, "Before I go in, there’s one thing I’m curious about. I know once I enter heaven, there’s no coming back out. And as a theologian I’ve often speculated on the essential difference between heaven and hell. Before I go in, could I have a glimpse of hell, just to satisfy my curiosity?"

"Of course," said St. Peter, "Your dedication to the Lord has earned you that. Come, I’ll show you myself."

So St. Peter took the theologian to a great banquet hall. Wash basins and grooming supplies were located around the perimeter. And in the center was a banquet table loaded with the finest in food and drink. But the people milling around the great hall were naked, dirty, unshaven, and emaciated. They were clearly starving.

Shocked, the theologian asked, "What’s wrong with these people? Why are they like this?" "Easy," said St. Peter, "they have no elbows. They can grab the food, but they can’t get it to their mouth. Neither can they wash, dress themselves, cut or comb their hair, shave, or scratch where it itches. Just try to do any of those things without bending your arms."

"Horrible!" the theologian exclaimed. "Now show me what heaven is like." Whereupon St. Peter whisked him to another banquet hall just like the first. The facilities were the same, the food was the same, even the decorations were the same. But the people were gayly dressed, immaculately groomed, and obviously well-fed and happy. The sounds of singing, conversation, and laughter filled the room.

"I see," said the theologian, "this incredible difference in the people is because here in heaven they have elbows."

"No," said St. Peter, "they don’t have elbows here either. There are no elbows in the afterlife. The difference is that here the people take care of each other. They wash each other, dress each other, and feed each other. And they scratch each other where it itches. You don’t need elbows in heaven. The people that come here have learned to accept their interdependence. You’ve often heard it said that people can go to hell all by themselves, but they never go to heaven alone, but as a community. Now you know why."

The theologian thought about this, then said, "But why are there no elbows in the afterlife?" "Ah," explained St. Peter, "elbows were never part of God’s master plan for humanity. They were given to us while on earth so we could survive the selfishness around us. But we were supposed to outgrow it. We were certainly given the example in our parents. They washed us, clothed us, fed us. Babies don’t need elbows ... except for sucking their thumbs. That’s a little selfish indulgence we are allowed. But we’re supposed to outgrow it.

"The people in hell are trapped in their selfishness and their pride in their independence. They never learned to care for others and to let others care for them. But the people here have the antidote to that. It’s called ‘love.’ They have learned to give it and accept it."

"Are you ready to go in now?" asked St. Peter. "Yes," replied the theologian. "I saw beluga caviar on that table, and Robert Mondavi cabernet sauvignon 1974. I can’t wait to get my hands on some of that food."

"OK," said St. Peter, but remember, once you get your hands on that food, all you can do with it is give it to someone else. The only caviar you will be eating will come from someone else’s hand. No elbows, remember?"

"Oh yeah," said the theologian, "I forgot for a minute. But I can do that. I’m ready." And with that, he went off into paradise.

Are you ready for paradise? Have you accepted your interdependence on those around you?

Some people have a leg up on learning that lesson. Helen Keller understood that she needed her Annie. Alone, she was without sight or hearing, trapped in a silent, dark world which she could not understand nor interact with. The only way to compensate for the loss of those members of her body was to unite with another person.

Tennis players won’t get much preparation for heaven by playing singles. Doubles, yes. Do you play cards? Bridge players are learning skills needed in heaven; poker players ... are just having fun. Team sports can help teach interdependence. Joe Montana and Jerry Rice helped each other to greatness. And where would John Riggins be without the Hogs? Baseball fans never give a thought to Tinker or Evers or Chance by themselves. Together, they were the premier double-play combination in baseball. And where would Abbott be without Costello?

God carefully and lovingly designed us to be dependent on one another and incomplete by ourselves. The ultimate example of this is a man and a woman coming together to create new life.

Parents and children share a different kind of interdependence. At first, the dependence is all one way. Then it becomes more mutual. And in the end, it is often reversed, with the parent totally dependent on the child. It’s the way God designed us. He planned it that way. He didn’t have to. It’s a great blessing he has used to teach us love and to prepare us for eternity.

There’s one more interdependence we need to discuss — that between us and God. We all know we are dependent on God (although lots of people try to deny it). But what we don’t always think about is that God is dependent on us.

He didn’t need to be, of course. But God chose to be dependent on us. God could have stayed in heaven pulling strings, doing miracles for those in need, and zapping those who do evil. Or he could have left Jesus on earth to handle things directly. Or he could have denied us free will and run us as nice obedient automatons. But he didn’t. He sent Jesus to earth to save us by giving us an example of selfless love, by teaching us about God and how we should interact with each other, and by establishing his church to carry on the life of love.

Then he took Jesus back into heaven, and left the rest up to us. God chose to be dependent on us, the members of his church, to do his will and carry out his good work on earth. He made us the body of Christ — his hands and feet and voice — so that we could carry on his work of caring for humanity in his place. Of course, he didn’t just abandon us. He sent the Holy Spirit to give us the necessary gifts and graces we would need to do the job. But doing it is still up to us.

God is dependent on you. Did you use your gifts this week? I know Cathy did. She has been spending a lot of time with a Costa Rican woman named Patricia and her family. For months, Cathy has been providing transportation to get food stamps, go shopping, etc. Recently, she has been helping the woman deal with a drunken and abusive husband. She helped get the woman and her three children into a shelter, and then into a motel. This week, she needed help getting the woman’s things out of the house and into storage. A couple of us spent Monday afternoon with a pickup truck moving her things. Cathy spent the day at the motel taking care of the children. My main job was protecting the women in case the husband showed up. It took all of us cooperating. It was an example of interdependence at work.

But what about the rest of you? You are members of Christ’s body. He can’t accomplish what needs doing without you. Have you let Christ work through you? Have you been learning to get along without your elbows? Let us pray.

Lord, we recognize that we do not belong to ourselves. We belong to you. We are your members, your hands, your voice in this world. We acknowledge our dependence on you. And we acknowledge your dependence on us. Never let us forget our place in your divine plan. Use us, Lord, we are yours. Amen!

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