1 Corinthians 12:1-11

Epiphany 2 - Year C

1 Corinthians 12:1-11

I am always amused and aggravated at the way Paul can so easily slip from an either/or didacticism regarding Jesus' "name" to an open-ended appreciation of variety of gifts attributed to a Spirit of this same Jesus. I experience no harm to this pericope should verses 2 and 3 happen to get erased or not spoken when reading. Try it: 1 Corinthians 12:1, 4-11.

With that detail cared for, consider again the variety of images of G*D that G*D seems to have an appreciation for. They range from deserts to your life this day. All the named and unnamed gifts are expressions of an original blessing. Perhaps you will appreciate Chris Smither's song, "Origin of Species" - lyrics and performance.

For those of you who aren't into links, here is the pertinent section of the song:

God said: "I'll make some DNA"
They can use it any way they want
From paramecium
Right up to man."

"They'll have sex
And mix up sections of their code
They'll have mutations...
The whole thing works like clockwork over time."

"I'll just sit back in the shade
While everyone gets laid.
That's what I call
Intelligent design."

Yeah, you and your cat named Felix,
Both wrapped up in that double helix,
Is what we call
Intelligent design.

Paul calls this DNA "the same G*D who activates [each gift]". Appreciate an Original Blessing or First Gift that has manifested as you. Pretty amazing, are you!