Examining Our Hearts
by Fr. David M. Knight
Wednesday September 4, 2024
Twenty-Second Week of the Year
Lectionary 433
1 Cor 3:1-9/Lk 4:38-44
1Corinthians 3:1-9 presents a problem that needs to be faced. Paul sees a community divided between people who claim to side with him or with Apollos. We see this when people identify themselves—and others—as “conservatives” or “liberals.” Acting in character, they reject or accept speakers, teachers and writers only after subjecting them to the “litmus test” of allegiance to their own preference. Speakers are barred from parishes, or just not invited, because some concerned member of the congregation has whispered a warning to the pastor against their doctrinal orientation. Or shouted it from the housetops and written letters to the bishop. Only the speaker is excluded from this dialogue.
But the problem is not simple. Jesus warned against “false prophets.” He said, “You will know them by their fruits... every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit.” We need to be on guard against people whose spirit is not authentic.
And Paul himself wrote to those “deserting” him because Christians of the “Pharisee party” were insisting on observance of the Jewish law:
There are some who are confusing you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should proclaim to you a gospel contrary to what we proclaimed to you, let that one be accursed! (See Matthew 7:15-20; Galatians 1:6-8.)
Paul’s solution is to call us to examine ourselves. Do we take sides as “spiritual people” or as “people of flesh”? The key question is, when we listen to a speaker, are we sufficiently in touch with God to know what God is saying in our hearts? Or do we just react out of our “natural condition” or cultural mind set? Jesus said, “You will know them by their fruits,” but he could have added: “And the way you know them is the fruit of your own relationship with God.” And a judgment on it. The Pharisees rejected Jesus himself because they made idols of their laws and traditions instead of dealing with the living God. “If God were your Father,” he told them, “you would love me.” When we accept or reject anyone’s message, we need to examine deeply our own hearts first.
Luke 4:38-44 alerts us that a key question is, “What do I want from religion?” Security or challenge? Personal encounter with God or a “system” that is “safe”?
The villagers where Jesus healed flocked to him. But he left there because his mission was to give “life to the full,” not just relief from pain. “I must announce the good news of the reign of God, because that is why I was sent.” Is that what I am looking for from him?
Initiative: Let God judge within you. If you hear his voice, harden not your heart.
Reflections brought to you by the Immersed in Christ Ministry
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