Reading: I Corinthians 1:1-9
Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes, To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, together with all those who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind— just as the testimony of Christ has been strengthened among you— so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ. He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful; by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Reflection
Being faithful. That’s tough, isn’t it? I remember in my younger days, when faith formation became something that I was aware of, there were times when I thought that I just had to be faithful. O.K., I can do this, I thought. But then I discovered that it just wasn’t working. I remember times when the guilt was so heavy that I just wanted to give up. And, in fact, I did. What’s the use? I can’t do it even if that means that I don’t actually belong.

Then I kept discovering words like “God is faithful.” And I kept reworking things in my mind until I (most days) understand that it isn’t about my faithfulness. It’s about God’s faithfulness. AND because God is faithful, I belong. God calls us “into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” That doesn’t mean that I have stopped trying to be faithful. I still try. But it does mean that ultimately it is not about me.

It is about God.

And here’s the really good news: you can count on God’s faithfulness. My faithfulness? Well, only on good days.

–Jim Bricker

Prayer

Gracious God we give you thanks for your faithfulness that endures even when ours falters.

Amen.