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Pauline Reflections 21 - 4th April 2009
I mean,
brothers and sisters, the appointed time has grown
short; from now on, let even those who have wives be as
though they had none, and those who mourn as though they
were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they
were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had
no possessions, and those who deal with the world as
they had no dealings with it. For the present form of
this world is passing away. 1 Corinthians 7:29-31
This Pauline
encouragement is very much in line with our last
reflection. The relationship between Christians and the
world always comes with some challenges. This is perhaps
because Christian values and morals are considerably
different from the values and morals of the world.
For some
Christians this does not make much difference: they can
simply assimilate worldly values and still make efforts
to participate in church services on Sundays. For
instance, they can quarrel and fight with their
neighbors, hold grudges, take life and make money the
ultimate value in their lives.
Other
Christians understand their Christian vocation as a call
to escape from the world, the world is considered as
evil. Such Christians live very isolated lives,
withdrawn from worldly activities and they form a group
of born again Christians, claiming higher spiritual
values and importance over others.
St Paul in
these verses responds to a better way of dealing with
this conflict of living a Christian life in a corrupt
world. Christians are fully in the world but not
of the world. Paul is not advocating a flight
from the world, neither is he saying we should consider
the world as evil. He is not saying Christians should
stop marrying, buying, selling and relating with the
world.
Instead, Paul
is urging Christians to engage in such necessary acts in
the world, but with a spirit of detachment. Christians
should do all these things and all that makes life
enjoyable without making them the ultimate goals of
life. Perhaps, Paul already aware of Jesus’ teaching in
Matthew 6:19-21, is saying: Do not store up treasures
for yourselves on earth, where moth and rust consume and
where thieves break in and steal. But store up treasures
in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and
where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your
treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Prayer
Lord Jesus,
grant me a spirit of detachment from the things of this
world and the grace to use them wisely as I journey the
path of life. Amen. |
