Epiphany
January 26, 2017

Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:18-31

For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written,
‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
   and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.’

Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God decided, through the foolishness of our proclamation, to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling-block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength. –1 Corinthians 1:18-25

God has an eternal history of dealing with whatever we humans throw at God. Like a good parent, God strives to mold and make us into productive, contributing beings. We struggle into our autonomy, our self-governance, as we mature and grow with the freedom to become whatever we choose to be. There are external forces working against and for us every step of the way making us stronger or weaker based on our response to them. The Holy Spirit is an internal force constantly striving to facilitate our maturity as a child of God. We take solace in the fact that this force always has our best interest at heart even while our communing with this Advocate is our choice.

Throughout my life, I have had occasion to feel as if all my efforts relating to justice are like ramming my shoulder against a solid brick wall leaving me with only a bruised shoulder. When I experience such a pity party, it helps me to remember that justice ultimately is God’s dominion. My task is to stay in synch with God within the example of Jesus the Christ and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Simply working the process is difficult for us goal oriented people as it demands a letting go of our agendas and having a level of trust in God that may seem life foolishness at times. At such times, we need to hold tightly to 1 Corinthians 1:25: For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.

Prayer: We thank you God for the constancy of your love. Forgive us when we hesitate to step out in faith in continuing your work at times when we feel defeated. Restore and reinforce our relationship with you and guide us forward on our common journey. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized 
Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council 
of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights 
reserved.