Our Venerable Father Moses the Black (c. 400); Our Holy Father Augustine, Bishop of Hippo (430); the Holy Martyr Gebre Michael, Illuminator of Ethiopia (1855)
2 Corinthians 11:5-21; Mark 4:1-9
Abstinence from meat and foods that contain meat.
Read 2 Corinthians 11:5-21
Paul tells us himself that he laboured more than all the apostles. Interestingly, he never doubts his identity as an apostle. Furthermore, despite the fact that he never saw Jesus during his earthly life, he is remembered as an apostle par excellence, the tradition calls him, “the apostle.” In his letter to the Corinthians, he is aware of his identity as an apostle, asserting that in no way is he inferior to the others. His reason? He has knowledge. Knowledge of the truth about who God is: Jesus Christ, crucified and risen. This fact emboldens him to preach and support these communities, often at personal expense. For example, he reminds the Corinthians that he preached the Gospel to them without asking for money. As he says elsewhere to the Corinthians, Paul is unmercenary in his preaching of the Gospel: “we put up with everything [even not getting financially supported by our communities] rather than hinder the Gospel of Christ.” (1 Cor 9:12). Notice too that the Corinthians were a particularly problematic community. Corinth was a town of loose morals. That certainly affected the Christian community. Also, factions drove a wedge between the early Christian communities. So Paul’s apostolic zeal urges these communities to remember the Gospel preached to them and make that their source of strength and of unity. As most engaged with apostolic ministry know, such exhortations aren’t always listened to. But in Paul’s case, his zeal is written testimony both to challenge us 2000 years away from Corinth and provide a pattern for devotion to building up the body of Christ.