Essentialness

I’ve found myself lately pondering that word "essential." It’s interesting how words emerge at different times and take on more dimensions of meaning because of our circumstances. Right now that word gets used in phrases like "Who’s essential?" or "What’s essential?" or "How essential is he/she/it?" Everything - from people’s jobs, to our plans - right down to the most mundane things (I’m thinking toilet paper here) has to be reevaluated as to its essentialness.

In challenging times, a particular group of people may come to be appreciated like never before. After 9/11, firefighters were revered, and rightfully so. We watched courageous men and women go into burning, collapsing buildings. Today we watch healthcare workers "suit up" against a common enemy on behalf of the sick. The other individuals who serve in hospitals and care facilities, administrative people and building custodians, also put themselves in harm’s way for the good of society. I doubt that they have thought of themselves as heroes, but all of us appreciate them more than ever. We do not doubt the essential nature of what they are doing.

We know that’s how our world works, but what about the Kingdom of God? Who’s essential in the Kingdom? The scriptures that  come to mind are 1 Corinthians 12:22-26: 

On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

What St. Paul is saying here is amazing: it’s the vulnerable, weaker, less presentable parts of the Body that are indispensable, essential. This is beautiful because it’s a sustainable way of maintaining community. Paul says it’s "so that there should be no division".  Division makes things unstable, unsustainable. 

We all know seasons of weakness and need. And in those times, it is the stronger and more skilled members of the Body who can come to our aid. 

If you are feeling weak right now, I wonder if you are feeling essential? Quite a different way of looking at things. And who in the Body of Christ can come to your aid? Ask Jesus who that might be, and reach out to that person for encouragement, prayer, help. It’s so easy to feel like a burden. Try feeling essential. And those of you who are not feeling weak, pray for and love those who are. The Kingdom of God is set up so differently than our kingdoms. Participating in His Kingdom can make all the difference in this here and now world.

~Rosalind Hervey