The word of the day is “walk.” Today St. Paul teaches that there is a difference between having life in the Spirit and living in the Spirit. Thus, in our reading of Galatians 5:22-6:22, St. Paul writes, “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit (vs. 25). The Holy Mystery of Baptism grants the baptized the “seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit” and  confers the power, illumination, and inspiration of the Spirit (Orthodox Church in America, “Baptism Service,” 2012). From then on, those who are washed and renewed in the baptismal font, indeed, “live in the Spirit” (vs. 25).  Having died to the “old life” of sin and death, they now wear the white baptismal…
The word of the day is “delivered.” Where did Paul get the teachings that he so ardently preached? Paul demonstrated what could distinguish between the Word of God and his own opinion. For example, in Corinthians he commands, “Not I, but the Lord” (1 Corinthians 7:10). And soon after he offers his opinion saying, “But to the rest I, not the Lord, say” (1 Corinthians 7: 11). However, in our reading of 1 Corinthians 15:1-11, Paul refers to doctrines that have the highest divine authority, He declares “…I delivered to you…that which I also received…” (vs. 3). Twice in his letters to the congregation, he emphasizes that what he shared with the church came from Holy Tradition. The first time the apostle speaks…
The word of the day is “shame.”  If we hope to sit at the table of the Kingdom to come, can we also seek to sit in the seats of wisdom, power, and honor in the kingdoms of this world? Today in our reading of 1 Cor 1:26-29, Paul writes, “But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty” (OSB vs. 27). Today, we consider the contrast between two kinds of honor and shame, and we find that we must decide which we will reject and which we will seek. In our reading, Paul defends his proclamation of the…
The word of the day is “confidence.” Love creates relationships. But the loving bond between us grows in the fertile soil of trust. Paul affirms this insight in today’s reading of 2 Corinthians 7:10-16. Paul has changed his feelings toward his congregation in Corinth. He writes, “Therefore I rejoice that I have confidence in you in everything” (vs. 16). The Greek word for “confidence” is a form of the word meaning “to show boldness” (Strong’s #2292). That is, the apostle is now encouraged, heartened, and emboldened in his relationship with the Corinthians. These feelings of secure affection toward another depend on mutual trust. In a relationship of fidelity, no one needs to be hesitant, uncertain, and guarded–that is, distrustful. But those who are confident of each…
The word of the day is “sorrow.” There are two kinds of regret for the wrong we have done. In our reading of  2 Corinthians 7:1-10, Paul teaches the  distinction between these two kinds of remorse:  “worldly sorrow “and “godly sorrow.”  The first is feeling sorry for us.  We regret that we have been found to be imperfect and liable to the consequences of our fault. The second is the grief of knowing that we have offended our God. We will learn from our reading that “worldly sorrow” has no remedy, but “godly sorrow” leads to repentance and divine forgiveness. The background of our reading is that Paul had sent his co-worker Titus to check on the situation at Corinth.…
The word of the day is “yoked.” Despite our intentions, others influence us. Relationships involve “give and take.” Thus, if we engage with others who have different beliefs, values, attitudes, and habits than we have, we must be on guard lest their outlook affect us, even unwittingly. On the other hand, it may be that by our association with them, we might find that we can influence them. Today in our reading of 2 Corinthians 6:11-16, St. Paul admonishes his congregation, “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers” (vs. 11). Paul’s directive may be  unpopular in our “pluralistic society.” Yet, he had a point for us to consider as we seek to live faithfully amid the diversity of peoples in today’s…
The word of the day is “new.” We live in an old world whose days and months, and years keep spinning around like a top. But like the child’s toy, the earth’s rotations will eventually come to an end. Today in 2 Corinthians 5:15-21, St. Paul speaks of the results of Christ’s death and resurrection. He writes, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (vs. 17). The Greek word for creation is derived from the word “kosmos” (Strong’s #2889, 144). This familiar word refers to the harmonious order of the universe that God has fashioned. In this sense, the apostle writes that those who are “in Christ” are fresh creations…
The word of the day is “all.” Many say that Christ died “for me.” But that thought does not necessarily motivate those are “saved” to seek salvation for anyone else. It might lead the “saved” to be content that the promise of eternal life is “for me.” But in our reading of 2 Corinthians 5:10-15, Paul writes, “We judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all (OSB vs. 14-15). Today we examine Paul’s motives for his zealous preaching of the Gospel. And we find that its root is his absolute certainty of the divine judgment to come and of the love of God who desires the salvation of all. We then will ask how we might attain this same conviction.…
The word of the day is “confirm.” When the apostle Thomas surrendered his doubt and confessed the Risen Christ to be his Lord and God, Jesus responded, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20:29). This blessing from the Risen Christ comes to us who believe through the Word of His disciples (John 17:12) who were eyewitnesses to the events of our salvation (Luke 1:2 and 2 Peter 1:16). Today in 1 Corinthians 1:3-9, St. Paul assures the Corinthians that Christ “will confirm you to the end, so that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ” (OSB vs. 6). Today we will consider what…
The word of the day is “inner.”  In the rocky stretches of our spiritual journey, we need a reason for hope. Otherwise, we will give up in despair. In today’s reading of 2 Corinthians 4:13-18, Paul explains why he does not lose heart. Just before this passage, the apostle recounts how he is persevering through countless ordeals. Now the apostle writes that he is “hard-pressed on either side, yet not crushed; …perplexed but not in despair; …persecuted but not forsaken; struck down but not destroyed” (2 Cor. 4:8-9). But then he discloses the secret of his endurance. He writes, “Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day (OSB vs. 16). Today, we will describe our…