25 Aug 2015
It can be hard to be corrected by other people. I don’t image the scribes and the Pharisees really
cared for Jesus telling them to clean up their act. And it sounds like the people at Philippi
didn’t really like St Paul preaching the truth of the Word of God to them. They all thought they were just fine the way
they were; they didn’t need any help from that Jesus guy who spoke
blasphemy. And they sure didn’t need any
guidance from Paul who seemed a little too full of himself to preach anything
but his own gospel.
It can be hard to be corrected by other people, especially
people we don’t like or people who don’t seem to like us. It’s hard.
But, like we heard this past weekend, we don’t make ourselves vulnerable
to just anybody. We don’t let anybody and everybody tell us what we’re doing right and what about ourselves could
use a little work. Instead, we listen to
those people who love us; those people who sincerely respect us. And at the top of that list of people is God.
St Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians really expresses
the bond that was formed between him and the people there. The Thessalonians were open enough to hear
the Word of God preached to them. And
they were humble enough to say, “You know, this Paul guy is onto
something. God, our Creator, speaks through
him. And we can learn from him.”
Of course, that’s what all the Apostles and our Lord desire
for us, too. They want us to be fully
alive as human beings and as disciples of Christ. But being fully alive takes growth, and
growth takes a gentle hand to guide us and correct us along the way.
It can be hard to be corrected by other people. But it’s easier to be corrected by those who
care for us. And at the forefront of our
community of friends who are rooting for us is our God; God who is always
encouraging and truthful. It’s easier
and even joyful to be corrected by One who loves us.
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