Fourteenth Sunday - 2018

Let us focus for a moment on the 2nd Reading of today's Liturgy of the Word. Paul is writing to the Church in Corinth, and he is defending his reputation as a preacher of the gospel, which is being challenged. He said in the previous chapter 11, verse 5; “I do not think I am in the least inferior to those “super-apostles.” 2 Cor 11:5. Some preachers have come to Corinth who are very skilled and persuasive preachers – which Paul admits he himself is not. Paul is not questioning their silver tongues but the accuracy of their message. “For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you submit to it readily enough.” Chp 11:4 In his defence, Paul points to the profound revelations he has been given. But he lays claim not to these but his weaknesses, to his imitation of the Cross of Jesus. And one weakness above all others is Paul’s personal “thorn in the flesh.” So what exactly was this “thorn in the flesh” that Paul suffered? There is no clear consensus among scripture scholars to exactly what Paul is referring to. Perhaps it is something physical or something spiritual; perhaps a person, a nagging adversary. Given the context of preaching here, maybe it was some kind speech impediment. “Three times I appealed to the Lord about this, that it would leave me, but he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” Chp. 12:8 This is a most powerful lesson for each of us to grasp, a lesson for our generation. The church has been calling the faithful to be active evangelist in today’s secularist society. Secular humanism is casting a grave dark shadow over the message of the gospel today. But we say, what could I possibly say or do that might have the slightest value for such evangelization? Here, Paul shows us that evangelization is not about “silver tongues” it’s about witnessing. It is about “knowing Jesus, personally, and living a truly holy life in imitation of Christ. Every good work, every work of mercy we manifest in this world speaks volumes. When this generation sees real, living examples of the message of the gospel which Jesus taught, the work of evangelization is accomplished. Let none of us say I are not qualified to be an evangelist, little weak thing that I am, let us remember these words of Paul:  "For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” 1 Cor 1:26-31

.