I Am Speaking As A Fool

This meditation is based on a passage for March 2, 2011 in the Daily Lectionary Year 1 from the Book of Common Worship for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) (1993).

Text: 2 Corinthians 11:21b-33

Reflection and Question: Paul warns us that he is talking trash here in his sermon to make his point, by saying, “I am speaking as a fool” and “I am talking like a madman.” He is making himself sound like those he is criticizing for their boasting manipulation of the congregation in Corinth. If we do not take into account this rhetorical device Paul is using, we would miss out on his cautionary meaning altogether. Paul cleverly gets it both ways: he reminds the people that he is a Christian hero in his own right and he entreats everyone to cultivate humility. How do you foster humility in your own life?

Prayer: Blessed Jesus, we seek to take in Paul’s lesson here as our own. And yet, there is a thicket of irony and innuendo that hides Your truth from us. Inspire us with understanding so that we get Paul’s message for us here: Humility is Your will. Amen.