May 27, 2025

Joel Hernandez
"For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your[a] faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully."
Romans 12:3-8

The longer I’ve been part of the Church, the more I see how much we need each other and how easily we forget that. Paul’s words here are a timely reminder: no one carries the whole thing. We weren’t designed to. Instead, God gives each of us a part to play, and He calls us to walk in that with humility.

Humility doesn’t mean thinking less of yourself. It means seeing clearly. It means acknowledging what you bring and also what you don’t. It means knowing that your role matters, and so does everyone else’s. The Church is a body. That’s not just a nice illustration. It’s a reality we’re meant to live out together. We serve with different functions, but we share the same purpose. The gifts may vary, but the grace behind them is the same.

When we try to do it all ourselves, we break unity. And when we assume someone else’s gift is more valuable than ours, we do the same. But the body grows when we each show up with what we’ve been given and offer it freely. The Church becomes whole. That’s the invitation: not to be everything, but to bring what you have—humbly and willingly.

So today, look around. Where could you step in and contribute to the life of the Church? It might not be flashy. It might be behind the scenes, but it matters. Ask God to show you what He’s placed in you, not to elevate yourself but to build up others. The body needs you—not a version of someone else, but your real, grace-filled self, offering what God has given.