Wednesday
of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time
(I Corinthians 3:1-9; Luke 4:38-44)
Although the Catholic Church claims to be one, a telling fissure
appears on its surface. Liberal and conservative
Catholics criticize each other continuously.
Liberals believe that the Church must change if its teaching is to maintain credibility. They see, for example, a married clergy as
not only desirable but critical. Conservatives believe that most changes betray
the tradition handed over through the centuries. They even frown on the revived
customs of taking Holy Communion in the hand and from the chalice. St. Paul provides a needed corrective of both
sides in today’s first reading.
Paul calls the Corinthians “fleshly
people” for creating divisions among themselves. “Fleshly” appears to be the same quality as “natural”
in yesterday’s passage. It refers to
living according to the animal desires of dominance and sensuality. Even though they have been baptized into
Christ, Paul sees them as no more Christ-like than ruthless warriors. He urges the Corinthians to transcend their
differences by seeing God as their all-encompassing life-force. His compassion for all must be emulated.
We do well to follow Paul’s
recommendations. Of course, we are to
pursue truth by making strong arguments for what we believe. But even truth does not allow us to denigrate
those who take different positions. Most
always there will be something to note with approval. In this way that fissure threatening Church
unity will soon disappear.
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