16th Week in Ordinary Time (B) : Thursday 25th July 2024

St. Paul was writing to the Church at Corinth where there were several challenges. He wanted to encourage them. So, looking at his own experience, he emphasised that although the people may be weak and struggle in many ways, God was strong and would enable them to demonstrate the life of Jesus in all their actions. Overcoming adversity would prove the power of God. St Paul encouraged the people to have faith that, just as God raised Jesus from the dead, so too they would be raised to be with Jesus. He reminded the people that God’s grace would overflow abundantly to all who believed. It is worthwhile to suffer temporarily for the benefit of others.

To walk the path of Christ, humility is emphasised. Jesus’ teachings through the incident with James and John, the sons of Zebedee, and their mother, illustrates this perfectly. Rather than grant the request of their mother for her sons to be given places of honour in the Kingdom, Jesus advised that this was not His to give. But He shared that those who followed Him would be expected to drink the chalice that He would drink and to serve others rather than be served. The chalice was the chalice of suffering and service which involved the willingness to give one’s life for others. True leadership involves service to others. Humility is paramount to walk the way of the Lord.

Lord, please give me the strength and endurance to be a servant walking Your way.