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The Thumb of Christ
Much is written about the Body of Christ, but does anyone every pay attention to the lowly thumb? Today, we celebrate the thumb of Christ. Why the thumb? Well, because I just smashed mine when I too vigorously closed the convent window. I now have renewed appreciation for all the little parts that make up the Body of Christ.
Christ Pantocrator mosaic from Daphni, Greece, ca. 1080-1100.I especially like this image of Christ because he looks like he just slammed his thumb in a carpentry mishap.
Here’s the thing. The thumb is a very small part of the whole body. It’s not all that fancy, and it almost never gets the attention that parts such as the heart receive. But that little guy is part of the whole, and its presence or its absence affects everything else. I am painfully aware of this as I accidentally use my thumb to hit the space bar as I type. Until part of the body ceases to function “normally” we tend to take it for granted, not thinking for a moment about it’s total awesomeness and it’s essential place in our daily lives.
So this of course gets me thinking about the imagery of the Body of Christ, an image Saint Paul uses to talk about how we are all interconnected with each other and Jesus the Christ.
For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot would say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear would say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many members, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, the members of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and those members of the body that we think less honorable we clothe with greater honor, and our less respectable members are treated with greater respect; whereas our more respectable members do not need this. But God has so arranged the body, giving the greater honor to the inferior member, that there may be no dissension within the body, but the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. (1 Corinthians 12:12-27)
Just as the thumb is a small part of the body, not very glamorous or coveted (no one asked the Wizard of Oz for a thumb, after all), so we too might feel like a small, barely significant part of the whole Body of Christ. Yet we are indispensable. Our gifts and talents and unique way of being in the world are needed to fully make Christ present in the world, present to one another and to the whole world. And even when we feel crushed, tired, weighed down, we can still live fully. Even a crushed thumb can still eke out a space bar or two!
So here’s to the Thumb of Christ, my friends!
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{ 9 comments }
Great post, Sr. Julie! You’re so right that the little parts tend to get overlooked in the grand scheme of our bodies. Not just physically, but the little parts of our faith as well. I tend to get over-concerned with the big issues and let the little aspects fall to the wayside.
Your thumb stuff also reminded me of a fantastic old episode of the Dick Van Dyke show. When the main character gets too much science fiction on the brain, he has a very wacky dream involving alien walnuts who steal our opposable thumbs. It’s pretty silly, but reminds us of how important our thumbs really are. Thanks, and enjoy! (http://www.hulu.com/watch/30476/the-dick-van-dyke-show-it-may-look-like-a-walnut)
Love your ability to take the simple everyday (and sometimes painful) events of life and create a truely meaningful reflection. I have to smile, especially when I remember the times I have done something similiar, however I have to admit that I hadn’t given the Body of Christ a thought was the tears welled up. I will from now on. I will also be sharing your thoughts.
Sister Julie,
Lovely post on this glorious Monday morning. So sorry about your mishap. I hope you (and your precious little thumb) feel better soon. i will lift you in prayer.
I found it hard to open bottles and jars as well. But the most important thing I couldn’t do when I hurt my thumb, was perform the thumb motions while teaching and entertaining the kids with one of my favorite movie songs … from Hans Christian Anderson.
Thumbelina, Thumbelina, tiny little thing … Thumbelina dance, Thumbelina sing,
Thumbelina, what’s the difference if you’re very small? When your heart is full of love, you’re nine feet tall!
Though you’re no bigger than my thumb, than my thumb, than my thumb;
Sweet Thumbelina don’t be glum. Now, now, now, ah, ah, ah, come, come, come!
Thumbelina, Thumbelina, tiny little thing … Thumbelina dance, Thumbelina sing,
Thumbelina, what’s the difference if you’re very small? When your heart is full of love, you’re nine feet tall!
As kids are quite clever and entertaining, they performed the thumb motions and we all sang together. Reminded me of when we sing and clap together at Mass … as the whole Body of Christ.
In honor of you and your precious little thumb, I will sing Thumbelina to you on your 800# voice mailbox today, “if” you promise not to play it on the air.
)
Love, peace and joy,
Kathleen
Well, thanks once again, Sr Julie. Great observation on the importance of the little things about the Body of Christ……..and yes, howsabout the little toe, the one that is stubbed so often when we get up to feed the baby in the middle of the night?!
Ouch! Isn’t it interesting how that which seems to go un-noticed is that which pains us the most when it does get our attention? Hmmmmm.
Dear Sister Julie I empathise with you! I slammed my little finger in our tempe door a few weeks ago. Reading your blog, I was inspired to quote from it in our Monastery’s blog, and add these verses from a Buddhist text:
(Shantideva’s Bodhicaryavatara, Meditation chapter)
Verse 91:
The hand and the other limbs are many and distinct,
But all are one–one body to be kept and guarded,
Likewise, different beings in their joys and sorrows,
Are, like me, all one in wanting happiness.
Verse 114:
Hands and other limbs
Are thought of as members of a body.
Shall we not consider likewise–
Limbs and members of a living whole?
Here is my blogpost: http://rigpavihara.blogspot.com/2010/05/christs-thumb-buddhas-pinkie.html
I love those verses, Damcho, and your post. Is the Shantidevas’ Bodhicaryavatara something that I can find online to read or obtain?
Empathy for ouch! On the way into the graduation ceremonies on Saturday, my heel got caught in a manhole cover. I fell and scraped and bruised both knees, a leg and a few toes. I was very stiff yesterday and realized exactly how much one bends a knee during the run of a day. I hope your thumb heals quickly. The hilarity of my fall is that it happened in front of the entire graduating class of nurses. They were all very concerned and offered help and bandages right away. If the future of nursing is based on the graduating class of UPEI in 2010, then the health care system is in very good hands.
We have all had our experiences of the little parts of the Body of Christ, haven’t we! Sorry to hear about all the other mishaps. Thumb is doing okay. Actually took a nap for a while and am groggy but feel better. In the meantime, my next blog post will be “The Smoking Steering Column of Christ” — that little piece of your car that is essential to the running of the whole! (it happens to be in the shop today and the woman called from the shop saying that it started smoking while the mechanic was working on it).
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