As humans, we love to categorize – both others and ourselves – into specific groups, whether it be our political affiliations, our sports team loyalties, our personality types, and even our worship preferences.
Somehow, by defining these aspects of ourselves, we think we can communicate our identity more effectively. Yet, these labels actually cloud the most authentic expression of our true identity.
In the first reading, Paul was explaining this to the Corinthians. They were asserting their identities in whom they followed, and Paul responded:
Whenever someone says, “I belong to Paul,” and another “I belong to Apollos,” are you not merely men? What is Apollos, after all, and what is Paul? Ministers through whom you became believers, just as the Lord assigned each one. I planted, Apollos watered, but God caused the growth.”
Paul was proclaiming to them a very important truth: all of these things are meant to be the channels that Christ used to bring them to Himself. In the Jesuit spirituality, this is known as the Principle and Foundation of the spiritual life. Every creature and every created thing is to serve one purpose – to draw us to our Creator. Any good derived from these groups, even simple joy experienced from an athletic event, should point our hearts to our Lord and give Him glory.
Identity & Mission
What happens too often is that we embark on a mission such as a career, church ministry, or even a vocation, and then place our identity in that work. Paul understood that this is backwards from how Christ lived. First, we must know and begin to live from our identity as a daughter or son of a Loving Father. Then we can authentically and effectively live the mission He has for us.
Consider how Jesus began his public ministry. John baptizes Him in the Jordan River and the heavens open; we see Jesus’s identity in the Trinity. The Spirit descends like a dove, and the Father speaks, claiming His Son whom He loves. From His identity, he could go forth and produce great fruit whether healing, teaching, or simply being. In every action – even his steps and breaths, he was proclaiming the Kingdom of God.
It is the same with us too! When we are living from our true identity in Christ, it is not just the “big” things we do that do, but we too proclaim His Kingdom in every breath and heartbeat. By knowing we are God’s sons and daughters and by desiring to do all things in His Will, then we are living His mission for us at every moment.
Let us be God’s coworkers – working alongside our Father, sharing in His mission, and proclaiming His Kingdom in all things!
