Challenge to the Church

Today is the Sunday After Theophany (which was Jan. 6), the Great Feast instead of Western Epiphany, whereon Orthodox celebrate the Baptism of Our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ in the Jordan River by John, the public revelation of the Trinity and of Jesus as the Son of God. The Scripture Readings at Divine Liturgy today were Ephesians 4:7-13 and Matthew 4:12-17. They remind me that being the Body of Christ isn't just a claim or reality for the Orthodox Church, but a challenge to it. The Church is challenged to be Christ to the world. The Gifting(s) of the Holy Spirit to the Church are for it to come up to the full stature of Christ. In the Lord's shocking saying, WE are the light of the world. Christ prayed and worshiped, preached and taught, served and healed, and all of these are calls to the Orthodox Church. Today in Scripture Christ begins His ministry to humanity, and so must we anew.