THE WORD BECAME FLESH

Tuesday of 23^rd Week in Ordinary time, 2022

1Cor 6:1-11

Ps 149

Luke 6:12-19

He named Apostles

Our first reading today (1Corinthians 6:1-11) focuses on another of the problems in the community in Corinth. Paul had been told that some were taking cases to pagan courts to be resolved there, a thing that ridicules the faith they profess and portrays the leaders of the community as incompetent to resolve such matters. According to Paul, "When one of you has a grievance against a brother, does he dare go to law before the unrighteous instead of the saints? Do you not know that the saints will judge the world?...   Are you incompetent to try trivial cases?" Paul believes that issues concerning those who are members should be judged by the leaders of the community. Among the Jews, disputes were settled by the elders and leaders of the synagogue. For the Greeks, the courts were not just places where cases were tried, they provided amusement and entertainment to the public, who come to watch such proceedings. Paul does not want members of the community to ridicule themselves in that way. A good man will rather endure injustice than ridicule his faith in such courts. The saints rely on God as the true judge and so prayerfully adjudicate matters.

The gospel (Luke 6:12-19) presents one of the critical moments in the life and ministry of Jesus. He needed to choose from among his followers, those who will work closely with him. Luke describes how he went about it, "It happened that in these days Jesus went out into the hills to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God. And when it was day, he called his disciples, and chose from them twelve, whom he named Apostles..." We must examine ourselves on our attitude to life and prayer, particularly when we have to make those critical decisions. Jesus will have to hand over the leadership of the church, and the work of evangelization to these people. Not only that, he needed those who could fulfill what the scriptures had foretold, which accounts perhaps for why he chose ordinary men, men who were not perfect. They had the freedom to do their will, even while they belonged to the inner circle of disciples. They will be named Apostles. Sometimes, we are very careful to choose those who are perfect only, the best team possible. The imperfect also has their roles to play, if only we learn to listen to God in prayer and rely on his help to make the right choices.

Let us pray: Lord, imperfect though I am, I abandon myself to you, use me for your glory. Amen. May the Almighty God bless you, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

+Remain blessed