2 Corinthians 11:21b - 33
In the Second Letter to the Corinthians Paul is corresponding with a community that originally looked to him for guidance, but has come to fall under the sway of some new, charismatic figures. His over-the-top style of writing reflects how he is not happy about this. What does he do in today’s reading? He not only parodies the self-congratulatory style of his opponents, but most importantly, he emphasizes his hardships, his weaknesses. The way of Christ is to find victory in defeat, and life out of death, and that’s Paul’s approach here.
As Church, do we measure success and credibility in this way? Or are we, like the Corinthians, swayed by flashiness? I’d like to share (as best I remember it) a story I heard as part of a sermon preached at St. James in Brantford:
One Sunday morning a priest and his family, on vacation, passed a church building with a parking lot that was absolutely packed. They decided to check out what all the fuss was about. They went in and there was a professional coffee shop. Children got to play with lots of toys. The music was booming. Lights were flashing. Everything was slick and polished. After the service, as they left, the man’s young son turned to him and said: “Dad, that store was awesome!”
Where will we look for inspiration? The Cross or the Hollywood sign? Or to borrow the title of Tom Sine’s book, the mustard seed or McWorld?
- Matthew Kieswetter
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