This blog provides a meditation on the Episcopal daily readings along with a headline from world news:

ISRAEL MAKES REVENUE THREATS IN ADVANCE OF U.N. JUDGEMENT

1 Corinthians 4:8-

8 Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! Quite apart from us you have become kings! Indeed, I wish that you had become kings, so that we might be kings with you! 9For I think that God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, as though sentenced to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels and to mortals. 10We are fools for the sake of Christ, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honour, but we in disrepute. 11To the present hour we are hungry and thirsty, we are poorly clothed and beaten and homeless, 12and we grow weary from the work of our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; 13when slandered, we speak kindly. We have become like the rubbish of the world, the dregs of all things, to this very day.

14 I am not writing this to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children. 15For though you might have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers. Indeed, in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel.

Here’s another bit of my own translation:

Oh yes, already you’re stuffed full! Already you’re plutocrats! You’ve entered into your kingdom, without our help! Well, I wish you had, so that we could reign with you.

For it seems to me that God has exhibited us apostles at the back of the procession, like men condemned to death, so that we’ve become theatre for the cosmos, for angels and for men. We are morons for Christ but you are such sensible Christians; we are weak but you are strong; you are distinguished but we are despised. Right up to this moment, we are hungry and thirsty, we go half-naked, we are beaten up, we are homeless. We tire ourselves working with our own hands. Cursed, we bless; persecuted, we bear it; slandered, we give a soft answer. We are the scum of the earth, off-scourings of humanity, to this very moment.

I’m not writing this to shame you, but to bring you to your senses, as my dear children. For, even if you had ten thousand tutors in Christ, you wouldn’t have many fathers, for in Messiah Jesus, through the Good News, I fathered you.”

Christian Gated Community

I try to give something of the forcefulness of Paul’s angry rhetoric by which he wants to alert the comfortable Corinthians to the reality of the Apostolic life: they have seen him as the distinguished and prestigious leader of a religious club, such as existed in the Roman Empire. He speaks of how those whom Christ has sent out share the humiliation of the sender. This is not a passage which will become “text of the week” in the boardrooms of Christian enterprises or gated communities. In fact I don’t much like it myself. I can hear Paul’s scornful voice telling me that I’m such a sensible Christian and I guess for the most part, I am. I can only say that the few things I’m proud of in my ministry include those times I was able to screw up my courage and take a stand at the cost of my comfort. This is not a masochistic desire to suffer, but rather  recognition that many of my choices in life have screened me from the unpopularity and suspicion which more genuine apostles usually attract.

 Matthew 5:21-26

21 ‘You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, “You shall not murder”; and “whoever murders shall be liable to judgement.” 22But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgement; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say, “You fool”, you will be liable to the hell of fire. 23So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift. 25Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are on the way to court with him, or your accuser may hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. 26Truly I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.

Reconciliation first, religion second

This teaching is an aspect of the “better righteousness” which Jesus has promised to encourage. The old commands are to be used a point of contact with the God who issues them so that the disciple fulfils God’s intention rather than the letter of the law. In forbidding murder God places in question all abuse and wrong doing towards another person. Religion is not to be used as a substitute for justice. We’re all on the way to judgement so if there’s anything we need to sort out with someone we’ve wronged we’d be better to settle “out of court”, Jesus suggests, with a wry comment about what can happen once you’re in court.

This teaching is sane, earthy, sober and humorous, like everything that comes from Jesus. I can’t imagine why we hear so little of it in churches, unless of course, it’s a little too direct for comfort.