Reflection on 1 Corinthians 12:2–11 and Luke 18:9–14
Feria Secunda after the Tenth Sunday after Pentecost, with Commemoration of St. Agapitus the Martyr
The Epistle (1 Cor. 12:2–11) and the Gospel (Luke 18:9–14) appointed for this day weave together a striking harmony: the Holy Ghost distributes gifts freely to the members of Christ’s Body, and these gifts find their proper soil only in the humble heart. The commemoration of St. Agapitus, the youthful martyr of the third century, deepens this theme: God’s grace makes the weak strong, confounding the proud and wise of this world.
The Epistle: Diversity of Gifts, Unity of Spirit
St. Paul reminds the Corinthians that before their baptism they were carried away by dumb idols, but now the Spirit of God breathes upon them with many gifts: wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, prophecy, discernment, tongues, interpretation. “But all these things, one and the same Spirit worketh, dividing to every one according as He will.”
St. John Chrysostom, preaching on this passage, notes that the Apostle labors to humble the Corinthians, who were prone to vainglory about spiritual favors. The Spirit distributes, Chrysostom says, “not as the receiver desires, but as God judges expedient, that all may be taught to look not upon themselves, but upon the Giver.” Pride in gifts, therefore, betrays their very purpose.
St. Augustine, too, teaches that these charisms are given “not for the exaltation of one, but for the profit of many; not to lift the vessel, but to pour forth the wine.” The vessel remains clay, but the Spirit makes it useful for the household of God.
The Gospel: The Pharisee and the Publican
The Gospel places before us the contrast between two men praying in the Temple. The Pharisee enumerates his works and compares himself favorably to others, including the Publican. But the Publican, striking his breast, dares not lift his eyes to heaven, only saying: “O God, be merciful to me, a sinner.” Christ concludes: “This man went down into his house justified rather than the other: because every one that exalteth himself shall be humbled, and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.”
Origen comments that the Pharisee’s prayer was “not directed to God, but to himself,” for he sought his own praise. The Publican’s cry, however, reached heaven, “for humility is the key that opens the gates of mercy.”
St. Gregory the Great in his homilies on the Gospels warns us that even the good works we perform, if they become matter for pride, “are lost to us in the very doing.” Yet the acknowledgment of our misery draws down God’s compassion. Thus the Publican, stripped of merit, was clothed in grace.
The Witness of St. Agapitus the Martyr
Today’s commemoration of St. Agapitus, a boy of only fifteen years who endured the tortures of Valerian’s persecution with steadfast faith, recalls the paradox of God’s ways. Here was no eloquent preacher, no wise elder, no miracle-worker. Yet by his humility and constancy, Agapitus overcame princes and judges, and gained the crown of life. St. Ambrose remarks that martyrs like Agapitus “are the true wise men, for they despised the fleeting world and clung to the eternal.” The Spirit gave him not the tongue of men and angels, but the silent strength of witness even unto death.
A Lesson for Our Souls
The Epistle teaches us that all gifts are from God. The Gospel teaches us that without humility, gifts avail nothing. The Martyr teaches us that in weakness God perfects His strength.
Thus we are invited, on this humble feria, to seek not great wonders but true humility. Let us ask the Holy Ghost not for glory but for grace; not for the exaltation of self but for the justification that comes from God alone. And with the Publican we may learn to pray, in the words of the Psalmist: “A contrite and humbled heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise” (Ps. 50:19).