The Holy Martyrs Proclus and Hilary (98-117); Venerable Father Michael of Maleon (961)
1 Corinthians 1:1-9; Matthew 13:24-30
Read 1 Corinthians 1:1-9
Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!
As St. Paul begins his first letter to the Corinthians he does so by reminding them of their identity. He reminds them that they are family, that they are the church in a particular place, that through Jesus Christ they are called to become saints. It is easy for us to forget who we are and what we are called to. When we do this the consequences can be devastating. A person without an identity is lost and wanders through life aimlessly.
Our identity connects us to our family and roots us with those who have come before. It not only gives us foundation to stand on, but it also shows us our purpose and goal in life: I am a Christian, who stands with billions of brothers and sisters who have come before me. I am a Christian who expresses this reality in a very real way at my local Church—at which physical location I manifest the Body of Christ at every Divine Liturgy. I am a Christian, for the one I belong to—who purchased me by his blood: ‘You are not your own; you were bought with a price.’ (1 Cor 6:19-20—is calling me to an eternal life of loving union with Him. This union is so intimate that the One who is the source of Holiness desires to share with me what He is—we are called to become a saint through Jesus Christ.