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There’s a beauty in today’s reading in the passion Paul expresses. How could people who have come to realise that they are known by God decide to turn back and live another way? He seems to feel the sadness and disappointment of the discovery that this has happened truly deeply. His admonishments could seem strident, even arrogant (a concern I often have with Paul’s letters), but then I realise, yet again, that Paul is a follower of Jesus who is working out what it means to give his life for that cause. Like many of us, he thinks he knows the best way to follow Jesus and his way. Paul has the added sense of authority and responsibility which comes from claiming apostleship (through his conversion). I sometimes wonder if, somewhere buried within all his rhetoric is the worry that he isn’t actually sure how all this will turn out.
And then, just when I’ve reached the height of arrogance, I remember myself. I’m constantly perplexed at myself, at why I say that I love and follow Jesus and then do anything except those things. I very often wish those who I lead in Church would listen to me and my wisdom. If they did that they’d be fine. I know they would. It might turn out that way sometimes, but if it did it would be because God was using me to support, challenge and encourage, not because I was any more or less special than anyone else. Is that how Paul felt as he travelled and ministered? I wonder.