Tenth Sunday after Pentecost; Octoechos Tone 1; 🕃 The Transfer of the Holy Relics of the First-martyr and Archdeacon Stephen.
Dormition Fast.
1 Corinthians 4:9-16; Matthew 17:14-23.
Read 1 Corinthians 4:9-16
It can be painful to not measure up to other people’s expectations. The Corinthians aspired to status and appearance. Not only could Paul not match their incorrect expectations of what his apostolic ministry should look like, he thankfully would not. His fatherly admonishment of them is instructive for us, whether we find ourselves on the giving or receiving end of the criticism Paul was subjected to.
First, Paul simply owns it. He embraces the unglamorous calling of an apostle. What he does, though, is reframe their observation: he is walking the way of the cross, “like men sentenced to death…a spectacle to the world.”
Second, Paul reflects back to his critics what they look like so they can see themselves as they really are. In this case he uses sarcasm, a tricky rhetorical device which may not be effective in all situations; in online conversation, it can easily backfire and escalate tensions. But here, it functions as a mirror: “We are fools…you are wise. We are weak…you are strong.”
Third, Paul offers himself as an example, going in the opposite direction of Corinthian aspirations. He is not a helpless victim or failure. He is successful in the life he is displaying to them. These are choices he is making and difficult ones.
His physical deprivations are intentional. His spiritual responses are chosen.
Paul’s conclusion is, when arguments fail, return to the foundation that truth is a person. He makes a strong appeal to imitate him as he imitates Jesus Christ, bringing vain human aspirations up against their undoing in the person who “did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant.” (Philippians 2:6-7)