Mission Impossible?

(Tenth Sunday after Pentecost)

Very Rev. Dr. Ihor Kutash kutash@unicorne.org   

Today's Epistle (I Corinthians 4:9-16) describes what it means to be an Apostle. A more arduous calling would be difficult to imagine: "To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are ill-clad and buffeted and homeless, and we labour, working with our own hands", he writes. This lists some of the physical ordeals they endured. Paul goes on to describe the attitude which an Apostle is called to have: "When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we try to conciliate". He ends with something that almost sounds like a complaint (but is not): "We have become, and are now, as the refuse of the world, the offscouring of all things".

This description hardly seems to be the way to persuade people that they ought to consider taking up the life of an Apostle. And yet Paul does in fact expect his readers (or listeners) to do just that, for he says at the end of today's lesson: "I urge you, then, be imitators of me". But what could make anyone want to live like that? Let us look at several possibilities.

There are some people who love challenges and adventure. They take up climbing Mount Everest or walking on the moon just because these are such difficult and dangerous things to do. To be an Apostle is no less a task. To stand ready to respond to God's call and rely on His guidance and help in the face of seemingly impossible circumstances takes all the courage and resourcefulness that a person has. And what splendid company to be in!

There are those - probably most people - who do not particularly like to do difficult things, yet who do find it rewarding and fulfilling to be doing what is right. They like the feeling of standing up for something truly worthwhile, for some value which can stand the test of time. The Gospel of Christ - the good news about God's love and provision for us, and the way to respond to that love - is the embodiment of some of the highest values this planet has ever seen. Many have been inspired by it even without fully becoming followers of Christ. One such example was the great humanist and liberator of India, Mahatma Ghandi. How much more can we take joy and pride in following the Lord in all circumstances, if we have in fact inherited the treasure of His Gospel teaching by virtue of being born into a Christian family.

Then there are those wonderful souls who are willing to give up everything for the truth. Paul is among this number. What heroes these people are! How blessed is our earth that throughout the ages there have always been such heroes. We may not consider ourselves to be capable of such heroism, but what a great thing it would be to try for it! Lets! God will help.