Monday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time
Last week, the tenth week in Ordinary Time, the first weekday readings were from St. Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians. The gospel readings were from the Sermon on the Mount, found in chapters 5-7 of the Gospel according to St. Matthew.
The readings this week continue from the same New Testament documents.
St. Paul faced many challenges in relating to the Christians who lived in the Greek city of Corinth. In today’s reading, he describes what he endured as an apostle and as a minister to the people. He tried not to cause any of his fellow Christians “to stumble in anything.” He gives a list of the things he endured in his ministry: hardships, constraints, beatings, imprisonment, and labors. He reminded the Corinthians that he strove to show himself as patient and kind, in unfeigned love and truthful speech.
All of this is something we should try to imitate. How do we relate to one another? We have received the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Do we use those gifts to enrich the community?
Reflection by Archbishop Jerome Hanus, OSB
Posted in Articles for Ordinary Time, Daily Reflections