1 Corinthians 3:1-9
As a matter of fact, my friends, I could not talk to you as I talk to people who have the Spirit; I had to talk to you as though you belonged to this world, as children in the Christian faith. I had to feed you milk, not solid food, because you were not ready for it. And even now you are not ready for it, because you still live as the people of this world live. When there is jealousy among you and you quarrel with one another, doesn’t this prove that you belong to this world, living by its standards? When one of you says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos”—aren’t you acting like worldly people?
After all, who is Apollos? And who is Paul? We are simply God’s servants, by whom you were led to believe. Each one of us does the work which the Lord gave him to do: I planted the seed, Apollos watered the plant, but it was God who made the plant grow. The one who plants and the one who waters really do not matter. It is God who matters, because he makes the plant grow. There is no difference between the one who plants and the one who waters; God will reward each one according to the work each has done. For we are partners working together for God, and you are God’s field. You are also God’s building.
Reflection
When first reading this week’s Lectionary readings, it would seem to be about upholding the ‘Laws’ – human constructs in response to theological reflection. In Matthew 5:21-37, Jesus, was calling people to reread difficult Laws with the lens of God’s unconditional love – everyone is loved for who they are, not how we see them, nor by human and societal constructs. St Paul reiterates this more specifically to Corinthians, who honoured impressive speakers as being convincingly ‘true and infallible’, even if the substance of their pronouncements held flaws and judgements.
These days, across all forms of media, very convincing speakers make ‘Truthful’ claims, when those very claims are actually completely ‘fake news’, creating polarizing opinions, Sadly, in the bombardment of information, it is hard for churches to not ‘compete’, to lift their profile in the community space. Polarising opinions sometimes cause rifts even within a single denomination, let alone ecumenically. Our differences in ways of being, faith expression and church structure sometimes seem completely foreign to each other.
This reading reminds us again, that above all else, God sees us as the whole body of Christ. If we are truly following God’s Way, as St Paul writes “The one who plants and the one who waters really do not matter. It is God who matters, because he makes the plant grow.”
We are simply “God’s servants; partners together”.
May we listen, learn and shed our own prejudices, so that, as God’s people, our partnership grows through sharing the truth of life-giving faith. May we recall God’s abundant grace, gentle love, who tenderly cradles us all, so we too, speak with truth.
NB: Matthew 5:21-37 – a very helpful theological reflection in reading and receiving these difficult passages.
http://wwwstaff.murdoch.edu.au/~loader/MtEpiphany6.htmWhen first reading this week’s Lectionary readings, it would seem to be about upholding the ‘Laws’ – human constructs in response to theological reflection. In Matthew 5:21-37, Jesus, was calling people to reread difficult Laws with the lens of God’s unconditional love – everyone is loved for who they are, not how we see them, nor by human and societal constructs. St Paul reiterates this more specifically to Corinthians, who honoured impressive speakers as being convincingly ‘true and infallible’, even if the substance of their pronouncements held flaws and judgements.
These days, across all forms of media, very convincing speakers make ‘Truthful’ claims, when those very claims are actually completely ‘fake news’, creating polarizing opinions, Sadly, in the bombardment of information, it is hard for churches to not ‘compete’, to lift their profile in the community space. Polarising opinions sometimes cause rifts even within a single denomination, let alone ecumenically. Our differences in ways of being, faith expression and church structure sometimes seem completely foreign to each other.
This reading reminds us again, that above all else, God sees us as the whole body of Christ. If we are truly following God’s Way, as St Paul writes “The one who plants and the one who waters really do not matter. It is God who matters, because he makes the plant grow.”
May we listen, learn and shed our own prejudices, so that, as God’s people, our partnership grows through sharing the truth of life-giving faith. May we recall God’s abundant grace, gentle love, who tenderly cradles us all, so we too, speak with truth.
NB: Matthew 5:21-37 – a very helpful theological reflection in reading and receiving these difficult passages.
http://wwwstaff.murdoch.edu.au/~loader/MtEpiphany6.htm
Prayer – Plant in us…
Why do we repeat this, God of all?
Even though we are hear ‘the whole body of Christ’,
we act independently.
Even when we live out our faith,
we so often think we do things in the only way it should be.
More sadly, even though we are all your children,
we so often bicker, through prejudice,
and assume, through ignorance.
Plant in us again, your abundant grace, gentle God.
Let us hear from you, that
whomever plants seeds of faith
is following your Way;
whomever waters those seeds
is following your Way;
whomever nurtures questions and
offers openness to our Emmaus journeying,
is following your Way;
whomever shines light on injustice
or acts with your unconditional love,
is following your Way.
Plant in us again, your tender love, gentle God.
Strengthen our resolve to live as the whole people of God.
Simply, we are God’s servants,
and partners working together. Amen