Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost. Seven Holy Youths of Ephesus. Holy Venerable-Martyr Eudocia (98-117).
Dormition Fast.
1 Corinthians 9:2-12. Matthew 18:23-35.
Read 1 Corinthians 9:2-12
Money can be a touchy subject. Religious communities in particular come in for scrutiny when they ask for money. Accountability is important. In 1 Corinthians 16:1-4, Paul is clear that he will not handle a collection he is organizing for the church in Jerusalem but will only accompany, if necessary, those whom the givers “accredit by letter”.
But valid questions regarding our relationship with money cut both ways. It is not only those asking for money whose motivations and intentions can be examined. Today’s epistle reading asks those who have money to answer pointed questions about their misjudgment of those who forego it.
Paul bends over backwards to not have his apostolic work maligned by accusations of self-enrichment. He foregoes his right to material support for his spiritual work. His questioning of the Corinthian Christians is not because he wants to change that but because they were at risk of disregarding him as an apostle, to their spiritual peril. Rather than disregarding him for his chosen humility and servanthood, he wanted them to not miss his apostolic teaching because of misjudging him.
Paul is saying that we are in danger of missing the spiritual goods he brings as an apostle if we incorrectly define spiritual authority according to a successful presentation of an affluent image.