In today’s first reading, 1 Cor 6:1-11, Paul is challenging
us concerning the choices we make when in serious conflict with our “brothers
and sisters”? He is asking why we have
recourse to a secular legal system without seeking out judges among ourselves
who adhere to the values of the Gospels, to the commandments and church law, to
persons endowed with the wisdom of the Spirit, faithful to the Lord, living
God-centered lives? Do we go to the Lord
and seek His counsel concerning “everyday matters” before seeking secular
advice? When having recourse to others, do we first look at the background of
such a person. “Can it be that there is not one among you
[servants of the Lord] wise enough to be able to settle a case between brothers
[and sisters]?”
Why is it that we are following the secular legal system
that promotes gay marriages, abortion on demand, wife swapping, co-habiting,
cheating on one’s neighbor, engaging in slander against our opponents, judging
and condemning others, and so on, according to the standards of the world? “Do not be deceived,” Paul says to us; “neither
fornicators nor idolaters nor adulterers nor boy prostitutes nor sodomites nor
thieves nor greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor robbers will inherit the
Kingdom of God. That is what some of you used to be,” Paul reminds the
Corinthians; “but now you have had yourselves washed, you were sanctified, you
were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and the Spirit of our God.”
Let us, too, remember our background. We too have been
washed in the blood of Christ. We are sanctified by the Holy Spirit and we are
justified in the name of Jesus, our Savior.
We are not unbelievers. We are not outside the fold. We are members of
the one sheepfold shepherded by Jesus Himself. “My sheep listen to my voice; I
know them and they follow me” (John 10:27), not the voice of a secular society.
Or do we?
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