Third Sunday of Ordinary Time (A): 1 Cor 1:10-17
McDonald’s or Burger King? Ford or Chevy? The Beatles or the Stones? Apple or Android? The Patriots or the Steelers? Democrat or Republican? “Native” or “from away”?
We like to think of ourselves as mature, independent thinkers who follow our own path in life. This may be true at times, but in reality, we behave like sheep – or, like the turkeys in this photo. The world can feel like a big and scary place, where one could easily get lost or overwhelmed. We instinctively look for the safety of a group – a group in which we can feel at home. We look to this group for companionship, guidance and protection. The group becomes a big part of our self-definition.
As our lives unfold, we find ourselves members of any number of groups all at the same time – family, school, workplace, parish, political party. We tend to group around common interests, favorite movies or TV shows, sports teams, or brand names. We like to think that our interests – movies, sports teams, brand names – are the best, and we will feel personally attacked if our favorite celebrity or team or music is belittled in any way. Our choices must be the best, for they are OURS, and we are the best, are we not? We identify ourselves pretty closely with our groups.
Out of all the groups we belong to, does one group have preeminence? Is there one that matters to us more than any other, one that truly shapes, in a profound way, how we see ourselves and how we relate to the world – especially, how we relate to those who we see as not part of our group(s)? Or, do we merely drift from one group to another, one guru to another, not at all certain that we belong (or even want to belong) to any of them?
Paul is dealing with a similar phenomenon in the Christian community in Corinth, one which he himself founded just a few years before. This community was likely small by our standards. perhaps no more than fifty or sixty people. In spite of their conversion to Christ, however, they were still showing a tendency to break themselves up into even smaller groups and to feel rivalry with those of other groups.
This division seemed to happen because various people in the community began to associate themselves with whoever their favorite apostle or preacher was: “I am for Paul!” “Well, I think Apollos is a much better speaker!” “No, Cephas is cool!” And so on. They all wanted to see themselves as part of the elite group, the “in” crowd, and they would have felt superior to anyone who chose one of the others as their hero.
Paul is trying to tell the Corinthians that they have completely missed the point. All these apostles and preachers aren’t in it for themselves or to foster their own fan clubs. Nor are they in competition with one another. They are in it for Christ. It is Christ who called them, Christ who sent them, and it is to Christ that they are accountable. They may have different ministries, but they are all one in Christ.
When Paul urges the Corinthians “that all of you agree in what you say, and that there be no divisions among you”, he is not telling them that they must all be identical and walk in lockstep. Later in this letter, he will acknowledge that various people have various gifts and various roles in the Church, and that each one has their own role in the Body of Christ. No, Paul is reminding them that they all belong to Christ. As such, they are called to “put on the mind of Christ”. They are to be united in their common faith. This is their deepest identity. This is what should shape their attitudes, thoughts, and actions. They are to be one in faith, hope and love, free from rivalry or conceit. Paul would spell this out still further when he wrote to the Philippians, who were showing signs of similar divisions among themselves:
“Have among yourselves the same attitude that is also yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross. Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father“. (Philippians 2:5-11)
There is still a place for honest disagreement in various issues. There is still a place for friendly rivalry – as long as the “friendly” part is central, not the “rivalry” part. Beneath all our differences, however, we are invited to recognize our unity in Christ. We have all been saved, loved, healed, forgiven by the self-emptying love of Christ. Christ came to proclaim a God who is self-giving love, unity in trinity. It is Christ who makes us one people in the Spirit. Christ’s teachings and example define us. He makes us “gentle and humble of heart”, as he is. We still have our varied personalities and opinions. But what binds us as one is far more important. May the Spirit of Christ guide us and renew us as one people, not only for our own sakes, but that we might be a better sign of Christ’s presence in the world.