Knitted Together
based on Ephesians 4:1-16
by Rev. Randy Quinn

I could see the construction crew working from where I was eating my lunch on Thursday.  I watched the crane operator lower a large curved piece of metal.  It looked like it was full of gravel.

Then I noticed the man who was directing the crane operator.  He used hand signals that I soon figured out.  Pointing down, he was twirling his hand in a circular motion.  This apparently meant to lower the cable on the crane.  Then he made a fist.  That must have meant stop.

He waited until the wind twisted the metal a little and started twirling his hand while pointing down.  And the metal piece went inside a huge dumpster.

The signalman made two fists and then climbed into the dumpster.  When he crawled out, he pointed up and twirled his hand in a circular motion and the cable raised the metal piece up.  Except now two of the connectors had been disconnected and I realized that whatever was on top of the piece of metal was being poured into the dumpster.

As I looked around to see where it was going to go from here, I saw another man on top of a nearby building.  When the metal got high enough so the first signalman could no longer see clearly, the second man took over directing the crane operator and he used hand motions to get the metal onto the roof.

As I watched, I noticed another man who seemed to be just standing there.  I suspect he was in charge of safety.  If he saw something that no one else had noticed, he would tell everyone to stop.

Each man on this crew had a job.  And each man knew his job.  Part of their job included communicating with each other.  And the others couldn't do their job unless everyone else was doing theirs.  It was a team effort that required everyone to participate.

In this passage from Ephesians, Paul is telling us that the same is true for the church.  We each have a role.  And because we are all part of the one body, we need to work together.

In fact, Paul says, God has knit us together in love so that we are inseparable (v 16).

In that sense, it's very much like the bread on the table this morning.

I used to make bread every week.  Now I only make it on rare occasions.  But I still remember that bread is made up of flour, yeast, and water.  And depending upon the type of bread, there's also milk, butter, sugar, and other ingredients.

To make a loaf of bread, you mix the ingredients together in such a way that they can no longer be taken apart.  The flour becomes part of the yeast and the water.  They are 'knit together' and become one loaf.

We are the Body of Christ.  Each of us has a role, each of us has a place, each of us has a purpose.  But together, we are the Body of Christ.  Knitted together to serve, to love, and to proclaim the good news of God's love.

Thanks be to God.

Amen.