Thursday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time

Today's Mass Readings

There were many times when St. Paul was frustrated by his fellow Christians in Corinth. Today’s selection from 2 Corinthians exemplifies this. He had just written that one should not boast about oneself. And then he does it himself!

But he is doing it for effect. He wants to show how much he cares about them. He doesn’t want them to be deceived by the devil. He knows that some individuals are calling themselves “superapostles,” but they are really misleading the people. They are preaching another Jesus, another spirit, another Gospel.

Paul will have none of it. He reminds them that he did not receive any money for preaching the Gospel. He refrained from burdening the local community.

Instead, he worked hard to shape the community into a worthy spouse of Christ. Why did he do this? Because of his great love for the Corinthians. He is jealous with the same kind of jealousy that God had for the Chosen People.

Reflection by Archbishop Jerome Hanus, OSB