Ordinary Time

January 26, 2023

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 1:18-26

No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. –John 15:13

The Greek language has several words that are translated into English as the word love. The Greek word Agápē* translated as love in this quote from John typically refers to divine love (= what God prefers). Christ crucified was and is an act of divine love expressing God’s preference that all God’s people know that God loves you and me and all people. As God loves all of us, God calls us to love one another. That simple statement, followed by the action necessary to fulfill it, is the keystone to abundant life. A keystone is the wedge-shaped piece at the crown of an arch especially: such a piece inserted last and locking the other pieces in place**.

John 10:10 tells us that Jesus said The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

Is Paul saying to the Corinthians and to us that the wisdom of the world is that thief that comes only to steal and kill and destroy? Greed, lust for power, and bigotry are not what God prefers. I now think I must add violence to this list of the principalities and the powers that too often are pressing to overcome the power of love. Surely, we Christ-followers must account for our acceptance of violence as a routine part of life and become more vigilant in spreading God’s love to all people.

Prayer: Lord, do not ever let us grow in acceptance of violence as a normal part of life. Amen.

*https://biblehub.com/greek/26.htm

** https://unabridged.merriam-webster.com/unabridged/keystone

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.