Day 275: Advent in the First Churches CORINTH

DAY 275

                              Faith in the Midst of a Pandemic                     

A series of daily reflections for people of faith

by Rev. Robert Bayley, Interim Pastor

Patuxent Presbyterian Church, California, Maryland

pastorrobert@paxpres.org

Week Forty    Monday 14 December 2020

Advent in the First Churches: Corinth

Seven churches – seven letters – seven days

1 Corinthians 1:1-8

“Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes, to the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be his holy people, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ – their Lord and ours: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. For in him you have been enriched in every way – with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge – God confirming our testimony about Christ among you. Therefore, you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Given the conflicted mess that was the church at Corinth, it is not surprising that the Holy Spirit had Paul write his first letter to them with an opening reassurance that, because of their faith and in spite of their glaring flaws, telling them that the one who has started them on this journey will also “keep you firm to the end,” with a stated goal that they will, at that time, “be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Note that Paul begins with an affirmation of their strengths in these opening verses – and soon after tackles their multiple and serious behavioral and attitudinal problems, but not until he has laid this foundation for the interpretation of all of who they are in the light of “the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.” The expectation of any future event, be it Christmas, a wedding or a job promotion, influences the way we live between now and then. So with the second advent.

Reflective question: Will you place your most glaring flaws, shameful secrets, weaknesses and  places of failure, equally alongside your gifts and strengths and accomplishments in the presence of the Lord as you celebrate His first advent, and ask Him to help you interpret these places which are His property, because you are, in the light of His second advent? 

Reflective hymn: “O Lord, How Shall I Meet You” – verse 3 - Paul Gerhardt (1607-1676)

A Reformation Advent hymn that looks to the second Advent

You come, O Lord, with gladness, in mercy and goodwill;

To bring an end to sadness and bid our fears be still.

In patient expectation we live for that great day

When a renewed creation your glory shall display.