Our Venerable Father Thomas of Maleum; and Acacius mentioned in The Ladder of Divine Ascent of Saint John Climacus
1 Corinthians 1:1-9; Matthew 13:24-30
Read 1 Corinthians 1:1-9
Most of Saint Paul’s apostolic letters to the various Christian communities follow a familiar pattern. They begin with a greeting to the Church and its leadership which is followed by a thanksgiving before Paul begins to focus on the various local issues troubling that particular Church.
When we are faced with a troubling issue in the Church or have to initiate an uncomfortable conversation, we tend to overlook the importance of thanksgiving. Desiring to resolve the issue quickly, we cut right to the chase and address it head-on. For those on the receiving end, blunt criticism can be crippling and discouraging.
However, if we begin with thanksgiving before addressing the issues at hand, we illustrate that while nothing is perfect, it’s not all bad either. We underscore the positives before outlining the negatives and a plan of resolution.
Just like St. Paul, we affirm and give thanks for the faith and practice while always seeking to better that which needs improvement in order to help us attain the Kingdom of God.