What a fun week it’s been, following the Olympics! Who else has been watching? With the variety of events more accessible than ever, I’m sure more than a few of us have taken in more than the usual amount of screen time this week, with more to come, as these Games continue through August 11, and the Paralympics begin August 28!
It’s so inspiring to watch gifted athletes from across the world strive to be the best they can. It’s wonderful to feel part of this spirit of unity, celebration, and pride, even as I sit on my couch an ocean away. It’s amazing to see such beautiful diversity - while all competing are athletes, they showcase bodies of all shapes, sizes, and hues, each perfectly suited to their particular sport, from the tallest basketball player to the smallest gymnast. And though it is a competition, and there are only three spots on the podium, it’s been a joy to hear stories of connection and support between teammates and competitors alike. There have been cheers and high-fives to celebrate a stellar performance, and also hugs and encouragement when things didn't go as expected.
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| Photo by Alexandre Aymard on Unsplash |
As I was reading through the texts for worship this week, I noticed that these themes of unity and the celebration of gifts also come through in today’s reading from Ephesians.
The reading begins with the exhortation to “walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love…”
As I read this text about humility and patience, I thought of all the hype about American gymnast Stephen Nedoroscik, or “pommel horse guy” as he’s been referred to on social media. During the team event, it happened that pommel horse, his only apparatus, would be going last in the rotation. He waited patiently through all the other events, giving water to his teammates, cheering them on, and occasionally caught on camera snoozing behind his thick glasses as he sat on the sidelines. When it was finally his turn, he hung up his glasses on the edge of the chalk bowl and did his one thing really, really well, aiding his team in winning the bronze medal. It was the first team medal for US men’s gymnastics since 2008, and later he also won bronze in the individual event.
Ephesians continues with the exhortation to “[make] every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace…”
An example of unity and the bond of peace was seen in a brief moment early in the week. While standing on the podium after receiving medals for mixed doubles table tennis, athletes from China, North Korea, and South Korea all leaned in for a selfie. Though this might not seem like such a big deal, there are deep and recent tensions between North and South Korea in particular, and yet the athletes could smile together, united by their common strengths.
Our reading from Ephesians then picks up the theme of the diversity of gifts, each in service to a common purpose. “Christ himself granted that some are apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ…”
As I thought about equipping, encouraging, and building up the body, Flavor Flav was the one who came to mind. Not gonna lie, initially I was really confused to see Flavor Flav hanging around with the women’s water polo team - wearing the funny cap both in the stands and even in the pool with them. But once I got past the initial confusion, and heard more about why he was there, I must say it’s been actually really wonderful to see him in the role of “hype man” and financial patron, equipping, encouraging, and building up the team so that their gifts might shine.
Indeed, the celebration and unity brought about by the Olympics is exciting and inspiring! I’m sure you, too, have favorite stories from this year’s Games that you could relate to the themes of unity, encouragement, and giftedness found in today’s reading. But while these few weeks might engender good feelings in us, the reality is that this sense of unity is fleeting. Before too long the airwaves will be filled not with cheering crowds and smiling athletes, but with yelling pundits and contentious, divisive politics.
As we look out at this landscape of an increasingly polarized nation, divided families, and divided communities, God’s vision of unity and peace as described here in Ephesians seems awfully far off.
And yet, as we make our way through the chapters, we see how the writer of Ephesians spends time throughout the letter addressing the deep divisions, disagreements, and mistrust present among the believers in Ephesus, who were both Jews and Gentiles. They came from different backgrounds, and valued different traditions, and their coming together for a common purpose as followers of Jesus didn't always go smoothly. Though it seems like an impossible, lofty goal, the writer of Ephesians points us to a life of unity that is not only possible, but indeed already ours through the reconciling presence of Christ, crucified and risen.
Living in unity and peace is a calling from God, but it’s certainly not an easy one. God calls us to unity, which reflects the unity and oneness of the Triune God. It’s a process that requires time and effort; a process that requires our patience and our humility; a process that requires our willingness to bear with one another in love.
Unity, though, is not uniformity. It is a common purpose, to which our different gifts contribute, each part knit together into the one body. Unity does not mean turning away from difficult situations under the guise of false “peace”. Instead, we are called to “walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which [we] have been called” and to speak the truth, not with disdain for the other or pridefulness in ourselves, but in love.
As we strive for this unity, and sometimes accomplish it, we do so only because God has first loved us, and has first been patient with us, and has first demonstrated humility toward us, in becoming human in the person of Jesus.
It is Jesus who binds us together as one body, drawing all people to himself through his outstretched arms on the cross. It is Jesus who unites us, in the one body and one Spirit, one Lord, one faith, one baptism. It is Jesus who feeds and strengthens and nourishes us with his own body, equipping the saints - equipping us - for the work of ministry.
Gifted by God, we use our gifts in service to others, to do the work of ministry. We build up the body of Christ, encouraging and supporting one another, and celebrating, above all, God’s gift of love and grace.
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