for August 27
Memorial of St. Monica

For the next three and a half weeks, the opening reading at weekday Masses will be taken from Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians. It is a favorite letter of mine for a perhaps surprising reason. The community at Corinth was the one Paul had the most difficulty with. They had many practical and theological problems and thus Paul wrote them at least three letters, only two of which are extant. In correcting their problems, Paul gives a blueprint about the correct beliefs and practices a Christian life warrants. Moreover, since this letter was written in the early fifties (AD), we have the earliest accounts of basic important beliefs, including the resurrection appearances of Jesus and the institution of the Eucharist.

In today’s passage from the beginning of the letter, Paul stresses that he is an apostle by the will of God, and they are the church of God, emphasizing the divine initiative since the Corinthians boasted of human endeavors. They, like all of us, are called to be holy which is why in the creed we profess belief in one, holy Church. In mentioning their being in union “with all of those everywhere who call upon the name of our Lord,” some think Paul is rejecting an incipient congregationalism which has proven to be tempting throughout history.

In giving thanks that they were enriched with all discourse and knowledge, which they certainly believed, Paul then adds not lacking any spiritual gifts which however they sometimes misused, such as with praying in tongues. He concludes his opening prayer by reminding them of the needed perspective that the Lord will come again and, perhaps more importantly, of their call to fellowship. Such fellowship in fact was lacking as there were cliques and factions, and even discrimination against the poorer members of the community.

By coincidence the gospel picks up the theme of the Lord coming again first with a warning to stay awake for the day the Lord will return is not known, then a rather simple parable about how a home owner would have protected his property if he knew the time the thief was coming, and finally an exhortation to be prepared since the Lord’s return will be at an unexpected time.

There follows a longer parable on the same theme about a faithful and prudent servant whom the master puts in charge of his household when he went away for a while. We are told that if the servant does as he is directed, when the master returns he will put that servant in charge of all his property. On the other hand. if the servant beats his fellow servants and gets drunk while the master is delayed, when the master returns at the proverbial unexpected day and unknown hour, that servant will be punished.

Some think the servant being put in charge of distribution of food is Matthew’s way of applying the parable to community leaders who preside at and distribute the Eucharist. While the parable could apply in some way to the disciples and their successors, I think it at least equally applies to all of us with its Advent-like theme that indeed the Lord will come again., for which we should be prepared.
—Edward O’Donnell SJ

Today’s readings can be found on the US Conference of Catholic Bishops’ website.