Servants of the Mysteries of God
by Fr. David M. Knight
Saturday, September 7, 2024
Twenty-Second Week of the Year
Lectionary 436
1 Cor 4:6b-15/Lk 6:1-5
In 1Corinthians 4:9-15 Paul continues the opening theme of this chapter: “Thus should one regard us: as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Now it is of course required of stewards that they be found trustworthy.” What are the signs that one is trustworthy?
Paul seems to say, “the cross.” Jesus said, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” So, we may be inclined to feel a little guilty if we are not suffering with Christ. (Mark 8:34)
Christianity by nature is opposed to so many cultural values of the “world” that those comfortable in established society are not comfortable with Christianity or with authentic Christians. Jesus said:
If you belonged to the world, the world would love you as its own. Because you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, the world hates you. (John 15:19)
So Christians should feel uncomfortable with anything that makes the Church look as if it had “arrived” in this world and settled down to be part of its accepted way of life. The bishops rejected this image as “triumphalism” in the first session of Vatican II, but many still love it and project it. Some Catholics still love to see cardinals portrayed and arrayed as “princes of the Church,” giving the impression that Catholics belong to the upper class, if not the royalty of this world. Can you imagine Paul, as he describes himself here, fitting into a gathering of bishops and cardinals costumed more splendidly than the cabinet officials of any democratic government are today? Even the British parliament is outshone by comparison, while the Congress of the United States, the most powerful nation on earth, looks downright shabby.
Time Magazine reported in March of 1962:
As one of the most spectacular dressers of Christendom, a cardinal has to lay out at least $3,000 [today $34,000] for his cassocks and skullcaps of scarlet and purple..., his white lace rochets, silk sashes, and the splendid cappa magna — a 15-ft-long scarlet train for solemn occasions.
One picture is worth a thousand words. All who, like Paul, see themselves as “stewards of the mysteries of God” should be spurred to action by the pictures available on the internet.
Judgmental or not, we can’t keep Paul’s words (verse 8) from coming to mind: “You are already satisfied! You have already grown rich! Quite apart from us you have become kings!” Well, princes.
In Luke 6:1-5, Jesus claims lordship, not to rule, but to defend the hungry.
Initiative: Be responsible: react against any false image of the Church.
Reflections brought to you by the Immersed in Christ Ministry
Comments