Word to the Wise
Wednesday, September 5, 2012 - Wednesday in the 22th Week in Ordinary Time
[1 Cor 3:1-9 and Luke 4:38-44]While there is jealousy and rivalry among you,are not of the flesh, and walking according to the manner of man? Whenever someone says, 'I belong to Paul,' and another, 'I belong to Apollos,' are you not merely men?
There's a story I read somewhere about a meeting at a rural crossroads between two "church ladies." One of them asked the other about a revival going on at her (the second lady's) church. She replied that it wasn't too good. They hadn't saved anyone. However, she took comfort from the fact that another congregation down the road had a revival and they didn't save anyone either! I think St. Paul had this sort of thing in mind when he wrote to the Corinthians!
There is a theological principle at work here. "Grace builds on nature!" The Corinthians weren't "getting the message!" They had not made the connection between faith and conduct! Nature can frustrate some of the best efforts of God's grace! We can be motivated by the highest beliefs, but our conduct can betray these. It's a bit like being told that if we don't change our diet and get more exercise, our desire to have good health is going to be only that - a desire!
The Corinthians were acting like competitors instead of collaborators in the task of preaching the gospel. This rivalry could frustrate the whole effort to do God's work. The spirit of competition was frustrating the Spirit of truth! The Corinthians and all of us today stand convicted! AMEN
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