Friday 10 September
1 Corinthians 9:16-19, 22-27
Today’s reading gives a privileged window into Paul’s expansive vision of preaching the gospel and winning souls. Whichever way he turns, Paul finds himself compelled to preach. He does not exercise the right to material support for preachers that was customary within other communities; rather he supports himself so that the Good News he preaches is free from any modification that might arise from being under somebody’s patronage.
We might conclude that his compulsion resulted from the dramatic circumstances of his conversion. To see and hear the Lord, to be struck down, to be made blind and to have his sight miraculously restored must have been traumatic – so much so that he might have stopped his persecution of the Church and preached the gospel out of fear. But there is no hint of reluctance or fear in these verses; the words he uses – ‘reward’ and ‘commission’ – speak of willing service. Dramatic though the external circumstances were, it is clear that Paul was richly blessed and anointed at his conversion. He had ‘tasted and seen that the Lord is good’ and revelled in his blessing. Filled with the Holy Spirit, he was enabled to love both the Lord and his brothers and sisters: in essence he loved, therefore he witnessed.
Our own conversion experiences may have been less dramatic, but in the gifts of the Holy Spirit we are given the same capacity as Paul to experience God’s love and to love him in return. Moreover, we have the same commission to evangelize and like Paul we can experience the joyous compulsion of Christ’s love.
But Paul was not dogmatic in spreading the gospel: he gave a lot of thought to the manner of his preaching and witnessing. In particular he matched the method of his evangelism to people’s specific circumstances. This meant he had to exercise a great deal of discernment in his approach in keeping himself spiritually ‘fit’ and ready.
Paul’s teaching is exciting and should challenge us to be more creative and dynamic in our attempts to be the means by which other souls are brought to salvation. He invites us to enter into dialogues in order to understand where those we approach are coming from; to look first at their needs and to respond with the love that is the essence of Jesus’ Good News.
1 Corinthians 9:16-19, 22-27
Psalm 83(84):3-6, 12 • Luke 6:39-42
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