The Body of Christ is real. St. Paul gives his most in-depth treatment of the Church as the body of Christ in 1 Corinthians 12. Paul writes similarly in his letter to the Romans: “For as in one body we have many members, and all the members do not have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another” (Rom. 2:4-5). The HOPE Appeal gives us the chance to play our part in the body. We can pass the lifeblood given to us onto the smaller members, to the extremities, to the fringes. That requires us to see all as gifts – freely given to us and freely passed onto others. We must be sensitive to the fragility of the gift of life and work to protect it. We trust the mechanics of the body and work together to bring health and life to those in need. The HOPE Appeal allows the Diocese to function as the Body of Christ. Thank you for your gifts and for being an essential part of this healthy and holy Body.
