The Holy Prophet Samuel.
Post-feast of the Dormition.
2 Corinthians 10:7-18; Mark 3:28-35.
Read 2 Corinthians 10:7-18
How does one honestly understand “authority?” Is our attention focused on how we measure up to others or are we sincerely focused through utmost humility the “bar” of being “perfect” as was the ultimate question Jesus posed to that young man in lasts Sunday Gospel reading where he asks, “If you wish to be perfect…(Matthew 19:16-26)”
Draw your attention to the sentence in today’s epistle reading where St Paul states, “We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another, and compare themselves with one another, they do not show good sense.”
Last Sunday (Matthew 19:16-26) we heard of the young man “who had many possessions” ask Jesus, “‘Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good.’” One can be certain that, like this young man, who considers Jesus as merely a “teacher,” it is very unlikely that one would be interested in God’s Kingdom, one’s salvation or life in eternity. Indeed, Jesus “teaches” perfectly, because He is God.
The ultimate goal, Jesus intends in his conversation with the young man with “great possessions” is that he comes to realise that the person he is having the conversation with is God in the flesh. As “good” as any teacher might be, the source of that goodness is Jesus Christ alone. How could it be any other way?
The “authority” that St Paul speaks out of is Truth in Jesus Christ alone. There is no “senseless” “comparing” or “measuring of oneself” against another. He wants to reveal that unfortunate activity in order to condemn it as unfitting; so the witness of Truth may prevail. As St Paul says, “…it is not those who commend themselves that are approved, but those whom the Lord commends.”
Go with God!