Thoughts for the Day

* Temple of Apollo, ancient Corinth.

Let each of you lead the life that the Lord has assigned, to which God called you. This is my rule in all the churches. Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised? Let him not seek circumcision. Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing; but obeying the commandments of God is everything. Let each of you remain in the condition in which you were called.

Were you a slave when called? Do not be concerned about it. Even if you can gain your freedom, make use of your present condition now more than ever. For whoever was called in the Lord as a slave is a freed person belonging to the Lord, just as whoever was free when called is a slave of Christ. You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of human masters. In whatever condition you were called, brothers and sisters, there remain with God.

(Church in Wales Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

As we have seen Corinth was a mixed society made up of Greeks, Romans, slaves, and Jews, and the new church resembled this. In the early Church one of the greatest challenges concerned the relationship between Jews and Gentiles. Jesus had been a Jew and so naturally many felt that new Christians should be circumcised and should follow the Law of Moses. However, both St Paul and St Peter, felt that this should not be imposed on those who were not Jews.

Paul is insistent that Christians should be satisfied with the life they were called to, whether that was as a slave or a freeman, a gentile or a jew. They should make use of that life to keep the faith, and to pass on the Good News to others around them.

Today, we should make sure that our local churches embrace their diversity and that every christian is seen as equal and valuable to the work of God. There should be no second or third-class citizens today!

Lord Jesus Christ,
You called all people to You.
You healed men and women;
lepers, the lame, the blind;
the free and those who were slaves;
and You taught all who came to You.
May we be sure to treat
all people as equal,
and welcome all who come to You.
Amen.