Holy Martyr Hyacinth of Amastris. Holy Martyr Emilian (360-63)
1 Corinthians 14:6-19. Matthew 20:17-28.
Read 1 Corinthians 14:6-19
St. Paul tells the Corinthians to “strive to excel in building up the Church” (1 Cor. 14:12). He was addressing them in the context of speaking in tongues. The Corinthians were “eager for manifestations of the Spirit” such as the gift of speaking in tongues, but Paul told them that the power to interpret tongues is very important (1 Cor. 14:12-13). If one speaks in tongues which nobody can understand, only the speaker is edified; however, if one speaks in language that is intelligible, then others can be instructed and edified and the Church built up.
Earlier in his letter, Paul lists a variety of gifts of the Holy Spirit. He says, “To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another interpretation of tongues.” (1 Cor. 12:7-10). Even before listing these gifts, Paul explains that they are given “for the common good.” Even “speaking in tongues” and “interpreting” them should be oriented towards “the common good” of building up the Church.
Paul’s ministry was not “to baptize but to preach the gospel” (1 Cor. 1:17). Although he did not claim to preach with “eloquent wisdom,” he knew his vocation was to explain and teach while he spread the gospel. As we “strive to excel in building up the Church,” let us not be afraid to pray fervently while also edifying others around us with our knowledge and understanding. Whatever gifts we have received from God, let us not hesitate to use them in charity to spread the gospel in ways that people can understand.