(For a homily on the Ascension, please see Sunday, June 1.)
Thursday of the Sixth Week of Easter
(Acts 18:1-8; John 16:16-20)
In his First Letter to the Corinthians St. Paul writes that
he came to them not preaching eloquently or even sagely. Rather he spoke of Christ crucified. He had tried eloquence and sagacity in Athens
with little effect. As with most people,
the Corinthians were impressed more by sacrificial love than by wisdom or even
beauty.
Still the Jews of Corinth in today’s first reading refuse to
accept Paul’s message. Perhaps they were
content with their traditions so that they did not see the need to investigate
a new way of believing. More likely,
they could not accept a suffering Messiah.
In any case few Paul curtails his efforts among them so that he might preach
to Gentiles. Paul can readily refute their
unsophisticated pagan beliefs with the story of Jesus.
The history of Christianity contains many wise people and
illustrious art. But still it is Jesus,
the God-man who gave himself to free people of their sins, that holds our attention.
