Trinity X- Diversities of Gifts- I Corinthians 12: 1-11

This week, in looking over the readings for this Tenth Sunday after Trinity. the Epistle from 1 Corinthians 12:1-11 drew my attention. I was struck by the Apostle Paul's insight into both the dangers and the greatness of spirituality. First, the Apostle warns of false spirituality. Sometimes, people talk as if anything that can be called "spirituality" must be good. However, Paul does not make this assumption. On the contrary, he begins this discussion by warning about ignorance and idolatry. There are deformed kinds of spirituality and distorted views of spiritual gifts.

Secondly, St. Paul connects true spirituality to the Lord Jesus Christ. The work and gifts of the Holy Spirit must not be separated from faith centered on the life and work of Jesus. His Lordship brings unity out of human diversity. Serving Him is the factor that gives meaning to the "differences of administrations."

Thirdly, rooted in faith in Christ, the Holy Spirit can use human differences. Rooted in Christ, the Spirit inspires all sorts of good results. Believers in Christ are empowered by the Holy Spirit to engage in a variety of activities that continue the work of our Lord in this world. Such gifts range from religious knowledge to human communication to acts of mercy, but it is always the same Lord Jesus and the same Holy Spirit who are the source. 

Trinity V- Holy Fear- Luke 5:8

In the gospel for Trinity V from St. Luke 5, Simon Peter reacts to Jesus' miracle of the great catch with fear. His fear is two-sided. Peter recognizes his own sinfulness before Jesus. Peter also recognizes the overwhelming power of God at work in Jesus. Such fear is both a natural reaction and a religious virtue.
Unfortunately, many well-intentioned modern Christians do not see the value of such fear. In several different Bible studies over the years, I have had pious church-goers argue against the value of holy fear. They claim that fear is just a hold-over from what they view as primitive Old Testament religion. They maintain that believers should always function at higher levels with values such as love, mercy, hope, confidence, peace, etc.

Such claims are based on high ideals, but they are not the whole truth. Although Christians view the Old Testament as a preliminary to the Gospel, they also affirm that the Hebrew Scriptures contain the same basic message as the New Testament. The fear of the Lord is still the beginning of knowledge and wisdom (Proverbs 1:7; 9:10; Psalm 111:10). The fear of the Lord is one of the seven traditional gifts of the Holy Spirit. Such fear is reverence and awe,and it is the natural and primal reaction of the fallen and finite human being before the righteous and infinite God.

Thus, Peter is right to have a holy fear of divine power at work in Jesus. And so should we. Holy fear is not the whole story. Hopefully, in our spiritual journey, we move into other reactions such as faith, hope, and love. Yet, if an element of fear is not present in us, then we do not truly appreciate our own frailty and propensity toward sin or God's almighty and infinite holiness.