Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost. Our Venerable Mother Euphrosyne
2 Corinthians 6:1-10; Matthew 25:14-30
Read 2 Corinthians 6:1-10
Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!
Why do we want to shoot the messenger? It starts with our problem with the message.
Today’s reading is in the middle of an extended defense by the Apostle Paul of himself as a messenger. But being in the position of having to defend oneself is tricky. It can take the focus off the real issue – the message and obstacles to its reception within the hearer. Paul states the heart of the matter in the previous chapter: “We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you cause to be proud of us, so that you may be able to answer those who pride themselves on a man’s position and not on his heart.”
In today’s reading, Paul lays out evidence of where his heart truly lies. He knows the truth of Christ’s words that, “where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” It is evident by his actions that Paul does not treasure pride of position.
Paul appeals to his hearers that anytime they are hearing his message is the time to respond to it and he embodies its implications: “We put no obstacle in any one’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: through great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities…”
As people with a message, we are called to examine how we ourselves may yet be resistant to its implications for our lives. Do we treasure pride of position or, like the Apostle, are we willing to be misjudged “as impostors, and yet are true”? Of course, we are vulnerable to that judgement – our lives may not always line up with our message. But don’t shoot the messenger, especially if it is you; there is nothing wrong with the message.