Meditation on 1 Corinthians 13

Yesterday, we placed 1 Corinthians 13 alongside an actual tension-filled, Humpty-Dumpty broken situation in your life.  We did this, not because 1 Corinthians 13 is Elmer’s glue to put everything back together easily and magically.  We did this, not because I think the hurt and ache of life can be resolved by applying a Bible verse like an ointment to a rash.  We did this because I want you to hear how revolutionary and challenging these words are.

When 1 Corinthians 13 is offered only to a couple being married, we can Disney-ify the words.  We can think, “Aww, isn’t that sweet.”  But, when we consider the context that these words are written to a people in conflict, and could be written to our conflicts, that shifts the tenor and tone of these words.  Just as in our lives, there are those in Corinth who were maybe yelling or giving icy glares and stares of the silent treatment or had even left the church, suddenly these words don’t sound so wonderful. 

I wonder, what was Paul thinking writing this?  Does he really believe that the church in Corinth could turn their hearts, minds, souls, and lives around to live this way?  And then, the more difficult and demanding call, does Paul think you and I and we as the church can do that today?  Gulp…that’s a little too close to home!

If it is only up to humans to practice these words, I am not sure what will happen.  But, because God is God and moves in the chaos/brokenness/less than perfectness of our lives, maybe these words are possible.  Look back at your drawing from yesterday, recall that situation, person, place, experience, or encounter that is like a bag of sand you are lugging around in your life.  Paul is saying there is a freedom Christ gives to set down all the pain of life.  This freedom doesn’t guarantee an easy life.  This is a freedom from brokenness is a freedom for sharing/letting loose God’s love.  This freedom redirects our energy and effort away from fanning flames of hate and misunderstanding and anger to a freedom for being an instrument of God’s presence in the world.  To be sure, two thousand years after Jesus’ birth, life, death, and resurrection, there is no express lane to God’s realm here on earth.  We keep praying with openness to let love be planted in the soil of our souls, to take root, and grow for the sake of the world God so loves.  May you and I continue to let these words to the Corinthians and to the church today rummage and roam around our hearts on this day. Amen.