Third Sunday after Epiphany (NT)

1 Corinthians 3:1-9
1 But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. 2 I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready, 3 for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way? 4 For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not being merely human?
5 What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. 7 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. 8 He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. 9 For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building.
The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001 (1 Co 3:1-9). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

Most of us start off as children. But then one day we step up from our mother's milk and formula to mush and eventually to solid food. St Paul talks about treating people like children with regards to what they are taught. The teachings of the church can be very basic, but they can also be very deep. Jesus Christ reminds the crowd that every last part must remain.

St Paul is struggling with divisions. People who think that they are wise but are actually still infants. This does not mean that we should not grow. While we should all have faith like a little Child, eventually we must eat meat or solid food. When you grow up you are forced to deal with more difficult questions.

The Church has faced a lot of growing up over the last 2000 years, but in some cases they have decided to climb back into the crib. The Church of today can often choose a crib over an actual bed.

Speak the truth in all things. Not even the smallest thing should be left out of the Law and prophets. Jesus Christ has come to fulfill them. Even though St Paul plants and Apollos waters it is still Christ's Holy Church. He has redeemed his people and given them new life through his sacrifice.