Realism

In today’s first reading (1 Corinthians 4:6b-15), Saint Paul addresses people who think themselves greater than they are, while Saint Paul – one of the greatest of Apostles, who was personally and miraculously commissioned by Christ himself – is very realistic about the challenges against which he stands.

For as I see it,
God has exhibited us Apostles as the last of all,
like people sentenced to death,
since we have become a spectacle to the world,
to angels and men alike.

We are fools on Christ’s account,
but you are wise in Christ;
we are weak, but you are strong;
you are held in honor, but we in disrepute.

To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty,
we are poorly clad and roughly treated,
we wander about homeless and we toil,
working with our own hands.
When ridiculed, we bless;
when persecuted, we endure;
when slandered, we respond gently.
We have become like the world’s rubbish,
the scum of all, to this very moment.

I am writing you this not to shame you,
but to admonish you as my beloved children.

May the Lord always give us the grace to be realistic about ourselves and to stand strong in Christ no matter what.