Thought for the Day from the Church Fathers

 

 For the body is not one member, but many.

 1 CORINTHIANS 12:14

Other people may be great, strong, and self-assured. I, however, am nothing, and I’m worth nothing. Therefore, I could never assume the burden of even thinking I can cope with life’s affairs without the help of others. I’m well aware that I need the assistance of my brothers, each one of them, more than one hand needs the other’s help. In fact, the Lord has taught us the need of fellowship from the very way our bodies are made. When I look at my limbs, and see that none of them can get along by itself, how can I think I’m capable of fulfilling life’s duties in isolation? One foot alone can’t walk rightly without the other’s aid. One eye alone can’t see in proper perspective without the other’s cooperation, both seeing together. The sense of hearing is more accurate when both ears receive sound. The hand’s grip is more secure when made by all the fingers in “fellowship” with each other.

To sum up, in everything accomplished through natural action and by the human will, I see nothing done except by the joint working of powers in alliance. Even prayer itself, when it isn’t the prayer of believers united together, loses its proper effect; the Lord tells us that it’s when two or three call upon Him in joint prayer that He will be in the midst. In the very plan of salvation, the Lord worked to bring about togetherness between things on earth and in heaven, through the blood of His cross. For these reasons, my prayer is that for however many days are left for me here below, I may spend them in harmonious fellowship with others; and when I come to die, I pray that I will die in such peace.

Needham, Nick, ed. 2017. Daily Readings from the Early Church Fathers. Scotland, U.K.: Christian Heritage.