“When I came to you, brothers and sisters, proclaiming the mystery of God, I did not come with sublimity of words or wisdom… I came to you in weakness and fear and much trembling, and my message and my proclamation were not with persuasive words or wisdom, but with a demonstration of Spirit and power, so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom but on the power of God.”
Fifth Sunday, Ordinary Time, 1 Cor 2:1-5
In Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, from which we read today, Paul makes it clear that he has no intention of digging deep into his scholar’s knowledge of the Law or the Scriptures with which he persecuted the followers of Jesus earlier in his life. His will be a very “low key” manner by which Christ will convey His own Wisdom and Power. There will be no eloquent proclamations that might overshadow the words, images, and parables by which Jesus revealed Truth, and by which He called His followers to Truth.
Paul’s travels, his words while among the people to whom he is sent, and his letters to those whom he has met and set on their own journey in faith are means for that journey, not the destination itself.
In Mathew’s Gospel today, Jesus speaks of the necessity of our letting His Light shine in us. There is no arena of our lives where this is not possible, and therefore there is no arena in our lives where this is not expected by God. It is not only a proper proclamation and celebration of what God has done in our lives, but also the means and manner of our mission for the sake of others. There is no “catch phrase” that brings God’s grace into all these areas of living ...there is us. There is no spiffy, shiny appearance that will tell others Christ is present...there is us. There is no legal observance or worldly achievement that claims freedom from death and true life... only Christ. And where there is Christ there is us.