Lent
Maundy Thursday
April 2, 2015

Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 For I handed on to you as of first importance what I in turn had received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to someone untimely born, he appeared also to me. For I am the least of the apostles, unfit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace towards me has not been in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them—though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. Whether then it was I or they, so we proclaim and so you have come to believe. — 1 Corinthians 15:3-11

Don’t you just love Paul? No truer words were ever written by anyone than when he wrote I am what I am. He proved it when he wrote in the very next sentence that he had worked harder than any of them. As far as Paul is concerned he is stating fact not failing the humility test. In all honesty, he might have been right. We do not know. He and Luke took the time to record Paul’s work in detail, writings we do not have from the other apostles.

Of course, Paul is quoting God here. Although he changed the “who” to “what”. There is only one God but many parts working together in God’s service.  As Moses received his assignment he said to God, ‘If I come to the Israelites and say to them, “The God of your ancestors has sent me to you”, and they ask me, “What is his name?” what shall I say to them?’ God said to Moses, ‘I am who I am.’ He said further, ‘Thus you shall say to the Israelites, “I am has sent me to you.” ’ (Exodus 3:13-14) Through asserting his call, Paul strengthens his credentials for guiding the Corinthians as they blossom in the faith. Further, he attests that all who are made in the image of God are called by God to do God’s work. Paul asserts that he has and is answering the call. He can do nothing more and nothing less than what God has equipped him to do. This is true for all of us.

Today we remember and observe the Last Supper of our Lord. It is a reminder that we are to carry on Jesus’ ministry answering our call even in the face of adversity, even in the face of dejection, and even in the face of our own apathy. Prayer: Lord, make me aware today of being a part of the whole Body of Christ as I share in the loaf and the cup. 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.