Wellspring of the Gospel

 

Year A: 7th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 3: 16-23

The factions among the Corinthians had been a source of division and St Paul is determined to address the issue. He does not do this by simply telling them to stop - rather he does what he often does - he raises their sights beyond their earthly aspirations and squabbles and sets their minds on higher things.

So, he begins by referring to them as God’s temple - the living community in which God dwells. The Spirit lives among them - and so they are called to be holy and united. Their arguments have threatened to break apart the temple of God - a grave sin because, as St Paul says, the temple of God is sacred.

Then he goes on to show the foolishness of so much of what was causing division and difficulty by reminding the Corinthians - and us - that what we consider wise and sensible is not necessarily the same as the things that God considers to be wise and sensible!

In fact, the greatest wisdom the world has to offer fades into the mists of folly compared to the wisdom of God.

To boast about human teaching and achievement, then, is largely a waste of time. All the arguments about who is the greatest apostle or teacher - Paul - Apollos or Cephas (Peter) is futile since they are all servants of the Church.

Even the world - life - death - present and future  - are simply gifts to us. We do not really belong to any of them - since we have been claimed by Christ as His own - and He is where we belong.

It is often easier to foster division than it is to foster unity. It  can be easier to gossip - or boast about things in our lives - and claim superiority over others - than to see the good in others.

This is the path of discord - and still leads down the same path that St Paul was warning the Corinthians to avoid - the path to the self-destruction of our communities.

The path we are called to follow is the path laid before us by Christ. We are not called to stay in one place and build great stone temples to ourselves - rather we are to be a travelling temple - like the people in Exodus - a people on the march with God in our midst.

What does it mean for me?

Waterlily What light does this reading offer on how to deal with disagreements in the Church?

Text © 2007 Wellspring

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