Lent

February 28, 2020

Scripture Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10

We are putting no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, but as servants of God we have commended ourselves in every way: through great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, holiness of spirit, genuine love, truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; in honor and dishonor, in ill repute and good repute. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet are well known; as dying, and see—we are alive; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing everything. –2 Corinthians 6:1-10

Jesus never said it would be easy. Paul proves that in the above scripture. What would send a man into the world to share the message of an itinerant preacher, from a working-class family, who probably had only basic training from Sabbath school? Paul was trained at the feet of a leading theologian of the day, Gamaliel.

The second letter of Paul to the Corinthians has the flavor of clearing up misunderstandings from some previous correspondence. Paul was extraordinarily dedicated to sharing his understanding of the truth of Jesus Christ as it impacts the lives of all who hear it even if he has to say, “Let’s try that one more time.” Communication is complicated among people who know each other very well; it grows more complex the more diverse the communicators become. People from different cultures, languages, faiths, ages, skin tones have varying life experiences that frame their viewpoints. Bridging those differences is a challenge and results in an incredible experience of broadening one’s scope of life leading toward that Kingdom ruled by love Paul was introduced to on the road to Damascus. He had met the living Christ who change Paul’s life and drove him to share that marvelous reality with the rest of the world no matter what it took. We are called to that same ministry.

Prayer: God of Love, enable us to share your love to the whole world despite the challenges and help us grown in your love through the experiences. 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 America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.