| First Reading: Psalm: Gospel: | 1 Corinthians 9:16-19, 22-27 Psalm 84: 3-6, 12 Luke 6:39-42 |
1 Corinthians 9:18 What then is my reward? Just this: that in my preaching I may make the gospel free of charge, not making full use of my right in the gospel.
Today we have made merchandise out of the Gospel. We sell books and videos and seminars and all kinds of ways of getting money from the people so we can give them the Gospel. Underlying all of this is the idea that the one writing the book knows more than the one reading.
The reason the Gospel should be free is because first of all it is God's grace and not ours that is being given and God has not determined that it needs to be payed for anymore. Second, we need to reflect personally on our own sin and on how God is working in our lives. We need to learn form those who have demonstrated real faith but it is a personal matter.
Father, help me by your Holy Spirit to learn to look for the log in my eye before the spec in someone else's. The Gospel is your free gift to all and not my property to control.
Amen
No comments:
Post a Comment