Click here for today’s Scripture readings.
1 Corinthians 4:6b-15
Luke 6:1-5
To us, apostles have a privileged role in the church as close followers of Jesus. But the apostle Paul in today’s Letter to the Corinthians doesn’t see himself privileged at all. It’s tough to be an apostle, he says, and he recites a litany of woes to prove it.
Apostles are “the last of all, like people sentenced to death…a spectacle to the world…fools on Christ’s account… Weak… in disrepute… hungry and thirsty…poorly clad and roughly treated…homeless…ridiculed…persecuted…slandered… the world’s rubbish, the scum of all.”
Is Paul exaggerating? It doesn’t seem so judging by letters that describe his punishing life preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. On his missionary journeys he gained love and loyalty from many, he founded many churches, but others fiercely opposed him. Their opposition brought him much suffering and finally caused his death.
I suppose Paul’s suffering, like the sufferings of any of us who thinks we’re right, was aggravated by the conviction he’s on the side of truth. His message was from God. Why didn’t everyone accept him and this wonderful message?
The church itself is said to be apostolic, which means it share in the mission of Paul and the other apostles. But the truth we profess as believers doesn’t insulate us from suffering. In fact, it draws us more deeply into the mystery of the cross.
Paul’s complaints could be the complaints of Jesus. Shouldn’t they be ours too?
Fr. Victor Hoagland, CP is the Director of Passionist Press and a member of the Passionist Community in Union City, NJ
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