“Clean up everybody, everywhere. Clean up everybody, do your share.” Thus goes a little children’s jingle. But perhaps those words can summarize what the readings are saying today about community life. Everybody who wants to keep the community afloat has a role to play. There are different functions, or rather ministries within the Body of Christ, which is the Church. However, many problems arise when people compare with other members on what they do. They always want what others have, not realizing that each can contribute to the Body of Christ in their distinctive and special way. This recalls a story from my childhood. One day at a play for summer school I was chosen to be the lead singer for the presentation of a talent show. This would be the first and last time I would be chosen to sing! However, I did not want to do it because my other classmates were so excited they would be able to be the “security guards” and that seemed to be like a more fun than to sing in front of people. I kept telling the person in-charge that I wanted to be a security guard and not a singer. Now, looking back I realize that being a singer was a better choice than being a security guard. But this is a simple example of how things can start to unravel within the life of a community. Each one has a gift to offer, but sometimes a person wants to do what the other is doing, even if what they are doing is of importance as well. The second reading gives an example of a body to illustrate that all the parts are important. But if one part is to compare itself to another, that’s when problems emerge, that’s where divisions arise. In the Body of Christ, all complement one another. All have different talents to share. All are of equal importance in the eyes of God. But all have different functions, different ministries. Let us stop comparing with each other and start working for the actualization of the kingdom. In the Church, a person who cleans the toilets, and person who does a presentation on a theological topic, both are important and needed. This goes back to the second reading again. Some are apostles, some are prophets, some teachers, but all contribute something for the greater good, for the mission of the Church. It is very interesting that St. Paul gives a list of the different functions in the Body of Christ. Those already mentioned, but also, he adds simply the word “assistance.” It is a gift. Some people all they can do is assist with their hands, with their feet, with their presence, with their work. And this is good enough. Some people say, “I do not know much. But here are my arms, my body to work.” At other times there can be some elderly people who can only do so much because of their physical condition. However, they still come in to fold the bulletins. They still come in to pray for others. They still come in to do and hand out rosaries. They still come in to clean the chairs of the parish hall. They come in without making a great fuss and contribute to the greater good, with their assistance. We need people who will be in front of the curtain, and people who will be on the back of the curtain, assisting. St. Paul then proceeds to give another gift that can be used in the Body of Christ, the Church, that is administration. This too is a gift and much needed in the life of the Church. As mentioned, many times before, “somebody has to pay the bills.” Care must be taken so the operations may run smoothly, the basic services needed to be functioning for the preaching of the Gospel. When the electric bill is not being paid, it’s hard to preach in a dark room. This is just a simple example of administration. Basic goods and services must be in place to continue the mission. Diocesan priests are like jack of all trades. They do a little bit of this, and a little bit of that. Administration is a gift for some of them. Diocesan priests are parish priests. They do not only have to worry about the salvation of souls, but to ensure there is a functioning parish so the task of evangelization can take place. Administration is also a gift practiced within a given household. Administration is also a gift that some people who work in the Church can help with, for example, booking, and coordinating ministries…and so forth. Administration is not only for priests, but for those who lay the foundation for the important task of evangelization to take place. At the end, all have different gifts and talents to share within the Body of Christ. Let us be living cells within the Body of Christ, not a dead cell that offers nothing out of greed. Let us do our part in the body of Christ, so that it may continue to have a vibrant life. Let us be active members using our gifts and talents for the greater good of the Body of Christ, the Church.