Ms. Paula reads The Passion Translation of I Corinthians 12:12-27 during the worship service at Trinity United Methodist Church in Big Stone Gap, Virginia.

I Corinthians 12:12-27 The Passion Translation

Just as the human body is one, though it has many parts that together form one body, so too is Christ. For by one Spirit we all were immersed and mingled into one single body. And no matter our status - whether we are Jews or non-Jews, oppressed or free - we are all privileged to drink deeply of the same Holy Spirit. In fact, the human body is not one single part but rather many parts mingled into one. So if the foot were to say, "Since I'm not the hand, I'm not a part of the body," it's forgetting that it is still a vital part of the body. Think of it this way. If the whole body were just an eyeball, how could it hear sounds? And if the whole body were just an ear, how could it smell different fragrances? But God has carefully designed each member and placed it in the body to function as he desires. A diversity is required, for if the body consisted of one single part, there wouldn't be a body at all!

So now we see that there are many differing parts and functions, but one body. It would be wrong for the eye to say to the hand, "I don't need you," and equally wrong if the head said to the foot, "I don't need you." In fact, the weaker our parts, the more vital and essential they are. The body parts that need to be covered in public we treat with propriety and clothe them. But some of our body parts don't require as much attention. Instead, God has mingled the body parts together, giving greater honor to the "lesser" members who lack it. He has done this intentionally so that every member would look after the others with mutual concern, and so that there will be no division in the body. In that way, whatever happens to one member happens to all. If one suffers, everyone suffers. If one is honored, everyone rejoices. You are the body of the Anointed One, and each of you is a unique and vital part of it.