The Holy Great-Martyr Procopius (303)
1 Corinthians 2:9-3:8; Matthew 13:31-36
Read 1 Corinthians 2:9-3:8
How would you respond to the question, “what does it mean to be a spiritual person?” A common response might be: ‘A spiritual person is someone who is in touch with the invisible nature and energy that is within us—our soul— and around us in creation.” In other words, this could mean someone who believes that there is a deeper existence beyond the material world. According to St. Paul this very broad answer would apply to all human beings. For all human beings have a soul and have an inclination towards God. What differentiates the Christian from the non-believer? The unspiritual person is one who is guided by human wisdom, focused on the things of the flesh and dominated by the passions (gluttony, lust, avarice, acedia, anger, despondency, vainglory and pride). This is why St. Paul says to the Corinthians that he, ‘could not address them as spiritual men’ for they were living as non-believers according to the flesh.
To be spiritual one must strive to put on the ‘Mind of Christ’ and live in the Spirit of God. In other words, because God is Spirit all those who strive to live according to His Divine Wisdom become spiritual persons in relation to Him. St. Paul does not teach that the opposite of spiritual is material, but rather sinful is the opposite. For that which is sinful takes us away from the Spirit of God, but life in accord with the Wisdom and Mind of Christ brings us into communion with the Holy Spirit. It is the Spirit who sanctifies our life, leads us into all truth, bestows gifts and blessings and is the giver of life. To live in and with God makes us spiritual beings.