St. Paul taught that receiving Communion was “participation in the Body of Christ.” That participation transforms the Church into the Body of Christ. The Apostle unpacks that image to say that each member of the body contributes their particular gift to make up the whole. When St. Therese of Lisieux read that passage she looked to find how her gifts contributed to the body since she was not an apostle, evangelist or teacher. She had the prayerful insight that her “vocation was love.” Her place was in the heart of the body. In our prayer today each of us should seek to discern what our particular contribution to building up the body of Christ will be — a loving heart, a listening ear, a helpful hand.
