Saint John Chrysostom, Bishop and Doctor of the Church (Memorial)

I have become all things to all. 

Has this ever happened to you? You’re facing a hard decision, and you don’t know which way to go, when all of a sudden, you remember a friend’s sage piece of advice from long ago. At that moment, everything makes sense, and you know what your decision should be. Not only that, but any anxiety or fear you were feeling dissipates, and a sense of peace and confidence washes over you instead. Amazed and grateful, you breathe a word of thanks to the Holy Spirit, both for your friend from so long ago and for reminding you of his words at just the right time.

This is one way we can understand St. Paul’s words in today’s first reading. When he tells the Corinthians about his desire to “become all things to all,” Paul is not only referring to his practice of adapting his preaching to fit his audience. He is also speaking about all the friendships he has made as he preached the gospel from place to place (1 Corinthians 9:22). Paul did not just arrive, deliver a message, and depart. He developed relationships with people. He shared stories about his own experiences of Jesus, and he listened to their stories. Even after he left, he continued to stay in touch through his letters. It was obvious that he deeply loved his friends—and that they loved him. And in the end, it was that love that brought them to Christ.

Here is how Pope Francis explains Paul’s approach:

“Today, as the Church seeks to experience a profound missionary renewal, there is a kind of preaching which falls to each of us as a daily responsibility. It has to do with bringing the Gospel to the people we meet, whether they be our neighbors or complete strangers. This is the informal preaching which takes place in the middle of a conversation, something along the lines of what a missionary does when visiting a home” (Evangelii Gaudium, 127).

Perhaps another way to put this is to say that you can’t just tell someone about God’s love. You have to show it to them as well. And even then, it’s up to the Holy Spirit to use you and your words in whatever way he sees fit. All you need to focus on is the call to love.

“Come, Holy Spirit, and help me spread the love of Christ wherever I go.”

1 Corinthians 9:16-19, 22-27
Psalm 84:3-6, 12
Luke 6:39-42