God loves variety (2)

"The body is not one member, but several ... But now, God has placed the members - each one of them - in the body as he wanted ..."

"The eye can not say in the hand : I do not need you." 1 Corinthians 12: 14-25

Yesterday we considered the beauty of variety in creation and in the Church. But is this variety only beauty ?

Will it not lead to difficulties in "living together" ? The question is far from superfluous.

The couple, the first form of community life, is a good field of experience on this subject. In the beginning we love in the other what we do not have ; then this difference may bother us. Instead of mutually enriching one another, one seeks to change the other. But it does not work. This is hardly different in the Church. The variety of characters, sensibilities, services, gifts, and behaviors either enriches us or tests us ; but it is a fact.

Why is God's variety desired ? Before attempting some answers, let us note that the members are always individuals (1 Cor 12: 28-30). A believer is not a member of a church, but of the body of Christ.

Despite the difficulties, the variety is there

- to bear witness to this marvelous and divine conception of the Church ;

- to glorify God together ;

- to enrich the harmony of the whole ; an orchestra where one would hear that only one instrument would be very poor ;

- to decenter ourselves : "my brother, my sister is what I lack" ;

It has been said : what diversity and yet what harmony in this complex complex of limbs and organs, the most minute of which has its raison d'etre and its own function ! The eye and the little finger, for example, can not replace each other. But the second makes it possible to remove the dust that irritates the first (second verse of the day) !

The gifts are all equal and distributed by the Holy Spirit according to the perfect will of God. While we take heed of the manifestations of the flesh and our defects of character, accept the variety of our sensibilities, our perceptions of our services and our gifts for the enrichment of the people of God, and for the honor due to the Creator who likes variety.

Source (To pleasing the Lord)