Eighth Sunday after Pentecost. Fore-feast of the Procession of the Precious and Life-Giving Cross of the Lord; Holy and Just Eudocimus (840)
1 Corinthians 1:10-18; Matthew 14:14-22
Read 1 Corinthians 1:10-18
Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!
The next time a new pope is chosen, notice the people waiting and praying in St. Peter’s Square. When the white smoke curls out of the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, indicating that a new pope has been elected, the people cheer and weep, even though they do not yet know who has been chosen. So, why the cheers and tears?
The most important thing about a pope is that there is one. As today’s reading says, Christ is not divided. That apostolic unity continues in succession through time is a joy to bring us to tears.
So, why do we break unity, forming and reinforcing factions behind various leaders? The reasons are many but, like Tolkien’s One Ring, there is one that rules them all: we somehow believe that we are being loyal to Christ when we do so.
But notice, Paul calls out those who rally around him, Apollos, or Cephas (Peter), but he doesn’t let off the hook the “super spiritual” ones who say that their rallying is around Christ. Remember, the word of the cross – the one cross of the one Christ – is to us who are together being saved by it, the power of God.