Seventh Sunday of Israel (NT)

2 Corinthians 6:1-13

Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. ² For he says,

“In a favorable time I listened to you,

and in a day of salvation I have helped you.”

Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. ³ We put no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, ⁴ but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, ⁵ beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; ⁶ by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; ⁷ by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; ⁸ through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; ⁹ as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; ¹⁰ as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.

¹¹ We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians; our heart is wide open. ¹² You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted in your own affections. ¹³ In return (I speak as to children) widen your hearts also.

How are you treated by the World? Does the world protect and take care of you? Are you found in bondage or torment? St Paul commends himself (along with his co-workers) for being afflicted, imprisoned, beaten, and suffering. St Paul even talks about the opinion of the World verses the truth.

Many people will tell us about how God will help us lead a good life. God will give us riches and gold. God will provide for his people with good clothing, popularity, and wealth. God suffered so that we will not have to suffer.

St Paul does not say this, neither does God himself indicate this. God will take care of us people. God will also cause his people to suffer hardship. God will speak the truth, and sometimes it is not what we want to hear. God may bring his people to the point of death. It may even appear that his people are defeated. Remember God raised Jesus from the dead.

Our hope is not in this life only, but in the Resurrection of the Dead. God will bring forth the day of Salvation in his own time. God is opening up your heart. God is making you new. God has steadfast love for his people. He desires all his people to be saved. This means all of us will be forced to suffer from time to time. It also means some us will face very difficult choices. But thanks be to God he makes the hardest and most difficult choice for us: God chooses you to be his own.