The Greater Honor
Stories
Lectionary Tales For The Pulpit
57 Stories For Cycle C
It was to be "Spiritual Gift" Sunday in Corinth of old. After all it was no lesser an authority than Paul himself who had said of these people that they were, "... not lacking in any spiritual gift" (1 Corinthians 1:7). Not lacking indeed! They were abounding in spiritual gifts and once every year they gathered in their worship service to honor the greatest among them.
On "Spiritual Gift" Sunday it was the custom that a man named Theo conduct the ceremony of honoring. Theo had worked hard with his assistants to construct a series of podiums in the front of the church building. Theo stood next to the lowest podium. He announced to the congregation in a solemn voice: "Will all those who have one gift of the Spirit please come forward and stand here." Everyone knew what this meant. There was a kind of approved list of special gifts of the Spirit in Corinth. Theo's invitation was for all who had at least one of these special gifts to come forward and stand on the lowest platform. And the people came.
Theo was now ready for his second announcement. He moved to the next highest platform. "Will all those who have two gifts of the Spirit please come forward." Theo then moved to the next highest platform. "Will all those who have three gifts of the Spirit please come forward," he called out. More people came forward filling the third highest platform. "Spiritual Gift" Sunday proceeded as Theo called forward those who had four gifts of the Spirit, then five, then six, then seven, then eight, then nine. Those with nine gifts of the Spirit stood on the highest platform.
The honoring was now visually complete. Everyone in the congregation could see just how people rated in spiritual giftedness. The greatest honor, the highest platform, was for those with the most gifts. The lowest honor, the lowest platform, was for those with only one gift. Even they, however, were better off than the people who seemed to have no gifts at all. Those who appeared to have no special gifts could only remain in the congregation and gaze in honor at the wonderful array of spiritually gifted people standing before them. There they stood. In plain view. From top platform to bottom. What a sight! What an honor to be among the spiritually gifted. "Spiritual Gift" Sunday was certainly one of the highlights of each year in this congregation in Corinth so very long ago.
And then the bubble burst. Just after the ceremony honoring the spiritually gifted was complete the president of the congregation read the latest letter from Paul. It was always exciting to hear from this great missionary who had once served in Corinth. Some of the things Paul had to say in his letter, however, deeply disturbed the spiritual leaders of the congregation. Theo, for one, just walked out of church upon hearing some of Paul's advice. When the reading of the letter was finished and the service ended Theo headed straight for the exit.
Outside the church Theo quickly gathered around himself those who had stood on the ninth step. Theo and the others just shook their heads over Paul's letter. Theo said, "I thought I had heard more than I could take and then those cruelest words of all." Theo spat those words out in disgust: " 'Give the highest honor to the inferior part.' It's crazy," Theo said. "That would put an end to our "Spiritual Gift" Sunday altogether. Paul turns honoring upside down!"
On "Spiritual Gift" Sunday it was the custom that a man named Theo conduct the ceremony of honoring. Theo had worked hard with his assistants to construct a series of podiums in the front of the church building. Theo stood next to the lowest podium. He announced to the congregation in a solemn voice: "Will all those who have one gift of the Spirit please come forward and stand here." Everyone knew what this meant. There was a kind of approved list of special gifts of the Spirit in Corinth. Theo's invitation was for all who had at least one of these special gifts to come forward and stand on the lowest platform. And the people came.
Theo was now ready for his second announcement. He moved to the next highest platform. "Will all those who have two gifts of the Spirit please come forward." Theo then moved to the next highest platform. "Will all those who have three gifts of the Spirit please come forward," he called out. More people came forward filling the third highest platform. "Spiritual Gift" Sunday proceeded as Theo called forward those who had four gifts of the Spirit, then five, then six, then seven, then eight, then nine. Those with nine gifts of the Spirit stood on the highest platform.
The honoring was now visually complete. Everyone in the congregation could see just how people rated in spiritual giftedness. The greatest honor, the highest platform, was for those with the most gifts. The lowest honor, the lowest platform, was for those with only one gift. Even they, however, were better off than the people who seemed to have no gifts at all. Those who appeared to have no special gifts could only remain in the congregation and gaze in honor at the wonderful array of spiritually gifted people standing before them. There they stood. In plain view. From top platform to bottom. What a sight! What an honor to be among the spiritually gifted. "Spiritual Gift" Sunday was certainly one of the highlights of each year in this congregation in Corinth so very long ago.
And then the bubble burst. Just after the ceremony honoring the spiritually gifted was complete the president of the congregation read the latest letter from Paul. It was always exciting to hear from this great missionary who had once served in Corinth. Some of the things Paul had to say in his letter, however, deeply disturbed the spiritual leaders of the congregation. Theo, for one, just walked out of church upon hearing some of Paul's advice. When the reading of the letter was finished and the service ended Theo headed straight for the exit.
Outside the church Theo quickly gathered around himself those who had stood on the ninth step. Theo and the others just shook their heads over Paul's letter. Theo said, "I thought I had heard more than I could take and then those cruelest words of all." Theo spat those words out in disgust: " 'Give the highest honor to the inferior part.' It's crazy," Theo said. "That would put an end to our "Spiritual Gift" Sunday altogether. Paul turns honoring upside down!"
