GOD’S WORD FOR THE DAY (based on Catholic Liturgical Readings)
DATE: 6TH SEPTEMBER 2016
TUESDAY OF THE 23RD WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
1ST READING: 1Corinthians 6:1-11
PSALM: Psalm 149:1-6, 9
GOSPEL: Luke 6:12-19
THEME: LET YOUR CHRISTIANITY COUNT
The name “Christian” has a direct connection with the name “Christ”. It presupposes that a Christian has “something” of Christ in him/her. Hence, it is a contradiction when a Christian behaves in an unchristian manner and when such a situation is not managed well it ridicules the Christian faith.
The Church in Corinth appears to have been rocked by a lot of scandals. Some of the challenges the community had to contend with included internal wrangling, unhealthy factions, theological disputes and immorality. Paul, in today’s First Reading, addresses one of such many thorny issues in the community.
Apparently, there had been a case of defrauding leading to a misunderstanding among some members of the community. In their quest to resolve the feud, the key players resorted to a law court outside the Church. Upon hearing this, Paul, in a letter, expressed his displeasure on two counts. First of all, he was appalled that within the Christian community itself there were people who had chosen to inflict injustice on their fellow Christians and to cheat them – “In fact, to have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be defrauded? But you yourselves wrong and defraud– and believers at that” (1Cor 6:7-8).
Secondly, Paul questioned the decision of the feuding parties, who were Christians, to seek resolution of the matter in a non-Christian institution – “If you have ordinary cases, then, do you appoint as judges those who have no standing in the church? I say this to your shame. Can it be that there is no one among you wise enough to decide between one believer and another, but a believer goes to court against a believer– and before unbelievers at that?” (1Cor 6:4-6).
At the heart of the problems that plagued the Corinthian church was a crisis of faith. There were people within that community who were unwilling to yield to the demands of being Christian.
The Corinthian Christian Community is not different from many other Christian communities today. In fact, there are worse scenarios in some cases. We easily subscribe to the Christian faith when it suits us but are unprepared to live the faith with all its implications.
Today’s First Reading calls for sober reflection and a re-examination of our motives for identifying ourselves with Christ and the Church. Ultimately, it calls for repentance on the part of many of us.
Christianity is not just any kind of social or cultural club. It goes deeper than that. It is a call to become Christ-like – to talk and act like Christ. Now is the time to let our Christianity count.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, pardon me for the times I have dragged your name into the mud on account of my ill choices. Give me a changed heart and renew in me the right spirit to follow you in fidelity. Amen
Andrews Obeng, svd
DIVINE WORD MISSIONARIES
BIBLICAL PASTORAL MINISTRY
(Ghana Province)
“May the darkness of sin and the night of unbelief vanish before the light of the Word and the Spirit of grace. And may the heart of Jesus live in the hearts of all people” (St. Arnold Janssen).