“St. Paul sounds a little like a disappointed father in our first reading today. He tells the Corinthians, “I could not talk to you as spiritual people, but as fleshly people, as infants in Christ.”
In other words, Paul is telling them: “You are Christians already. It is time to grow up!” Why? Because there was jealousy, rivalry, and division among them. Some said, “I belong to Paul.” Others said, “I belong to Apollos.”
They were already baptized, but apparently some of them were still behaving like children fighting over who was better.
From this reading, let me offer three simple lessons.
Grow up—leave jealousy and division behind
Paul says that jealousy and rivalry are signs of spiritual immaturity.
Sometimes we think a mature Christian is someone who knows many prayers, attends many religious activities, or can quote many Bible verses. Those are good things. But there is another test: How do you treat people?
You can pray three rosaries a day, but if you spend the rest of the day criticizing everybody, there is still some growing up to do! You can know the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, but if you cannot forgive your own brother or sister, something is missing.
The real sign of spiritual maturity is not simply that we know more about Christ, but that we are becoming more like Christ—more patient, more forgiving, more humble, more loving.
Look up—keep Christ at the center, not personalities
Some Corinthians were saying, “I belong to Paul.” Others, “I belong to Apollos.”
Paul immediately corrects them: “What is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you became believers.”
This is also a temptation in the Church today.We have our favorite priest, favorite bishop, favorite preacher, favorite group. And now, because of social media, perhaps even our favorite online priest!
There is nothing wrong with appreciating people who inspire us. But be careful when admiration becomes attachment and attachment becomes division.
A priest may plant. A bishop may water. A catechist may teach. A parent may guide. But Jesus must always remain at the center. Priests come and go. Bishops come and go. Pastoral leaders come and go. Christ remains. We are servants. The Church belongs to Him.
Trust God—do your part, and let God do His
Paul says something very beautiful: “I planted, Apollos watered, but God caused the growth.”
This is very consoling, especially when we become frustrated because people do not change as quickly as we want them to.
Parents know this very well. You teach your children. You bring them to church. You remind them to pray. You give advice. Sometimes you repeat the same advice one hundred times—and still they seem not to listen!
Priests experience this too. Sometimes we preach the same message many times and wonder, Lord, is anybody listening?
But Paul reminds us: Plant the seed. Water the seed. Then leave the growth to God.
God was working beneath the soil
There is a story of a mother whose son had stopped going to church. For years she invited him to come back, but he always refused. Eventually, she stopped arguing with him. She simply continued loving him, praying for him, and quietly living her faith.
Years passed. One day, after going through a very difficult moment in his life, the son unexpectedly entered a church and sat quietly at the back.
Later he told his mother, “Ma, when everything in my life was falling apart, I remembered how you used to pray. I remembered the peace I saw in you. And I thought, maybe I need the God my mother has been talking to all these years.”
The mother had planted the seed long ago. For many years, she saw nothing happening. But beneath the soil, God was already working.
Final Words
My dear brothers and sisters, perhaps there is someone you have been praying for. A child. A spouse. A friend. Someone who has lost his way. Do not give up. Keep planting. Keep watering. Keep loving. And most importantly, keep trusting. Because you do not have to change everyone. You do not have to save everyone. That is God’s work. Our work is to remain faithful. We plant. We water. And God gives the growth.”