We’re reading from the 1st Letter of Paul to the Corinthians for almost the next three weeks at weekday Mass. A long stretch for one of Paul’s letters in our lectionary. It’s an important letter because it gives us a good look at what an early 1st century Christian community was like. Can we learn from it how to look at our churches and communities today?
The first thing you notice– this isn’t a perfect church. It has strengths and weaknesses, but its weaknesses seem more obvious than its strengths. That’s because Paul’s letter is written to correct abuses and answer questions troubling members of this church. What’s the first thing we might learn? Our church will never be perfect.
But Paul does not begin the letter with abuses, he speaks of the faithfulness of God, who is always at work purifying and strengthening his church.
Corinth was one of the great port cities of the Roman world, a melting pot for people and cultures of every kind. It had a reputation for moral depravity. Paul went there in the year 51, after visiting Athens where he used all his his skill trying to bring the gospel to the Athenians. Evidently, his visit was disappointing. Moving on to Corinth, he went first to the Jews to announce the gospel, as he customarily did, but they turned him away. Then, gentile hearers mostly from the poor of the city embraced the faith.
The situation caused Paul to reflect on what he experienced. The church is a mystery of God. You can’t judge it by human wisdom or explain it in human terms. It’s God’s church, God’s community, and the Spirit of God is at work. It grows according to God’s plan, not human planning. His task, Paul realizes, is to discern what God wills as the work unfolds.
In Ist Corinthians we have Paul’s humble acknowledgment that, though he is founder of this church, he is a servant among many servants. Other teachers, Apollos and perhaps Peter, labored in this church and factions have gathered around them. There’s a danger when human teachers take the place of God, Paul writes.
I planted, Apollos watered, but God caused the growth.Therefore, neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who causes the growth. He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive wages in proportion to his labor. For we are God’s co-workers; you are God’s field, God’s building. (1 Corinthians 3, 6-9)
We’re God’s field, God’s building. What’s God planting? What’s God building? Questions for us to ask.
” I Paul planted, Appolos watered, but God gave the increase. So often
we don’t realize what great things people have done before us.
Take some of the great teachers in your life, who were so good you
loved to learn new things with their invigorating classes. Take lay catechists
who taught us about the Bible, and prayers and Sacraments and we took them all for granted, because they were there for us.
Whenever I see a Sister teacher, I always say “thanks” for all you have
done for me and so many others. Greatness is sometimes quiet and humble but it is there to enrich us NOW.