Morning Devotion for Advent
December 3, 2021
Francis Xavier
The Invitatory
In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son: and to the Holy Ghost;
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be: world without end. Amen.
Praise ye the Lord.
The Lord's Name be praised.
Reading: 1 Corinthians 9:16-19,22-23
If I proclaim the gospel, this gives me no ground for boasting, for an obligation is laid on me, and woe betide me if I do not proclaim the gospel! For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward; but if not of my own will, I am entrusted with a commission. What then is my reward? Just this: that in my proclamation I may make the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my rights in the gospel.
For though I am free with respect to all, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I might win more of them. To the weak I became weak, so that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, so that I might by any means save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, so that I may share in its blessings.
Meditation: Jo Ann B. Jones
A phrase, “I’m all in '' has recently gained wider usage in conversation and written communication. It has been used among those who play poker, when one is staking all of one's chips on the hand. Based upon this usage its meaning can be extended to convey that one is ready to put all of one's available resources into an effort. If to be in is akin to be ready to, then to be all in is comparable to being totally committed to something, to giving or being prepared to give all of one's energy or resources toward something. The commitment may be so great that the end result is that one is completely exhausted, fatigued, or worn out. Of course, the activity, endeavor, or commitment has to be made clear so that others might be able to assess how “all in” one could be or was. As Christians we are often called upon to express our commitment to our faith. The most frequent occasion for this is when we renew our baptismal covenant. And yet, while we affirm certain beliefs and actions, we do not go so far as to say that we are “all in.” The closest we come is to respond, “I do” to the question: “Do you put your whole trust in his (Christ’s) grace and love?
This is a sobering point. And a helpful one, for it does open us to appreciate what Paul is saying in this portion of his letter to the Corinthians. First Paul takes very seriously the claim that preaching the Gospel has placed upon him. There are dire consequences that will befall him if he does not. It is as if he says, “Preach or be damned.” What he actually says is “Woe to me if I fail to proclaim the gospel! I must preach or be damned!” With this attitude, Paul sets the stage for a striking reflection on his own calling as apostle and for all of us as Christians, and provides a refreshing resource for our reflection on what it means to be called, commissioned to serve God and our neighbor, and proclaim the gospel.
A common claim of Paul’s, and restated here, is that he has made himself a slave to all. He uses this extravagant expression to explain that he is driven by the need to deliver the gospel to all people, not just the chosen people or the insiders. Paul stresses that he has given up all claims to his own individuality, but not that of the gospel; in order to “win more,” and “save some.”
Why is Paul willing to do this? Why be all things to all people? Why give up freedom for servitude? For Paul this is not a question, or a matter of choice, but of necessity. It is the gospel that is for all people that drives him to reach out both to Jew and to Gentile. For Paul all need the gospel. It is the one thing that is for all people. There are no insiders and outsiders.
The Lord's Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy Name.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the Kingdom, the power and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.
