Memorial of St. Gregory the Great, Pope & Doctor of the Chuch
Today’s reading from First Corinthians shows us another side of St. Paul. He has faced opposition from certain factions in the community. The city of Corinth didn’t have the best reputation. Unfortunately, some members of the Christian community needed to be reprimanded.
St. Paul uses a good bit of irony throughout the passage. First, he catalogs a list of ways in which he is different from the people who were causing the trouble. He is weak but they are strong; he is held in disrepute but they are held in honor.
Continuing the biting irony, St. Paul describes what he has been through: hunger, thirst, poorly clad, roughly treated, homeless, ridiculed, persecuted, and slandered. In response, he blesses, he endures, he earns his own living, and he is gentle. He recognizes that some consider him “the world’s rubbish, the scum of all.”
Paul is willing to put up with all of this because he wants his children to return to their senses. That’s his motive. He loves the people because, as he says, “I became your father in Christ Jesus through the Gospel.”
Today we celebrate the Feast of St. Gregory the Great. He also suffered much in leading the Church through difficult times. He was the first Pope to describe himself as the “servant of the servants of God.” Following the teaching of St. Benedict, he strove to practice servant leadership in the Church – to serve and not to be served.
Reflection: What is my motive when I use irony in relating to other people?
Reflection by Archbishop Jerome Hanus, OSB
Posted in Articles for Ordinary Time, Daily Reflections