Thursday of the Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time
(I Corinthians 1:1-9; Matthew 25:1-13)
The First Letter to the Corinthians has become the preferred
work of teachers of St. Paul’s letters.
It comprises a treasury of Church history as Paul addresses many
different issues challenging the Corinthians.
One of those issues was the different “charisms” in the community. The word may sound strange to some but at its
root is a very common concept in religion.
Paul treats of that concept in this passage, his introduction to the
letter.
The Greek word for “grace” is charis. It means “favor.” Paul offers his readers a blessing of God’s
grace, which sounds like a wish for “good luck.” Then Paul develops the meaning
of the word as he writes, “I give thanks…for the grace (charis) bestowed
on you in Christ Jesus, that in him you were enriched in every way…” He is referring to their good sense to accept
conversion and to change their lives in accord with the gospel.
Of course, we too have been graced by a relationship with
Jesus Christ. He has become our model
and friend as well as our Savior and Lord.
We imitate his love and find ourselves supported by his presence. His sacrificial gift has achieved our
reconciliation with the Father. And his
commands guide us as the shadows of life fall.
