The Holy Martyr Callinicus
1 Corinthians 11:8-22; Matthew 17:10-18
Abstention from meat and foods that contain meat.
Read 1 Corinthians 11:8-22
Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!
God created the universe hierarchically-ordered. The ranks of angels are ordered from seraphim, cherubim, thrones, dominions, virtues, powers, principalities, archangels, and angels. The Church is ordered with bishops, priests, deacons, subdeacons, readers, candle-bearers, and laity. The family unit is ordered by husband, wife, and children.
In marriage, a husband and wife come together and “become one flesh” (Gen. 2:24). Within their hierarchy there is unity. In today’s reading, St. Paul says that woman was created from man and for man, but then he explains that man is not independent of woman or woman of man: “For as woman came from man, even so man also comes through woman; but all things are from God” (1 Cor. 11:12). In saying this, Paul thinks back to the second creation story from the Book of Genesis where Eve was created from Adam’s rib to be his partner. Then biologically, all males are born from their mother’s womb. However, in all instances God always remains the Giver of Life. We humans are made to be in loving communion with God and one another, and none of us can be completely independent from everyone else. We are all dependent on one other and ultimately on God.
After taking time to explain proper order, in today’s reading Paul criticizes the Corinthians for how they come together to celebrate the Eucharist: “Now in giving these instructions I do not praise you, since you come together not for the better but for the worse. For first of all, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it” (1 Cor. 11:17-18). These divisions among the community at Corinth are unfortunate, but Paul recognizes that they are necessary so “that those who are approved may be recognized among you” (1 Cor. 11:19).
As baptised Christians, we are one family in Christ. Our fellow Christians are our brothers and sisters, and so we should work to resolve our disagreements and maintain (or even restore) unity without compromising on truth. In our lives we fall into sin and disrupt our relationship with God, but God is always faithful to us. He forgives us when we repent. As God forgives us, we need to forgive others who have trespassed against us. In practising forgiveness, we can actively work towards fostering this unity within our Christian family.