Context of Epistle: The Christians of Corinth were too comfortable; St. Paul knew that in order for them to improve it was his job as their archpastor – as their apostle and bishop – to push them out of their comfort zone.  The logic of his letter was designed to do this; but it wasn’t enough for him to know what they needed: he had to get them to listen to him, to respect him, and to trust him.  Today’s reading is part of his effort to do this.  Today I want to share this effort with you.

Complete Dedication
In the course of my career working for the army, I traveled a great deal and I met a lot of impressive people.  The ones that impressed me the most were the civil servants and special operators who lived and worked in dangerous places for extended periods of time, with nothing to sustain them but their wits and their duty.  They went through incredible hardships: hunger, thirst, physical pain, persecution and disrespect from the people they were trying to help.  They were the strongest men I know, but they put up with so much from people weaker than themselves – that is to say that they humbled themselves – out of devotion.  It was dangerous and thankless work (most of what they did they cannot share - nor would they if they could).  But they did it willingly again and again and again. It wasn’t just their job, it wasn’t just their career or their profession: it was their calling.  I cannot tell you how honored I have been to work with such men and to have counted them as colleagues (if only through their good humor).

Maybe you have met such people.  We are blessed to count a few as members of this parish.  [segue]

Please believe me when I tell you, that sense of awe and respect and assurance I get from being around these special men; I get the same and more when I meet those who have offered this kind of dedication for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ.  I speak here of missionaries who give up comfort to help people they have never met; of monks and nuns who love our Lord and His People that they have completely submitted themselves to Him; and of those, like St. Paul, who have followed this same calling of complete submission through the utterly humiliating and exhausting service to Christ’s Church as bishops.

Sense of Wonder
I am not exaggerating when I tell you that it has always been this way for me.  From the time I was first a catechumen, I have had the opportunity to meet a great many bishops; and I have done this with an even greater sense of wonder and appreciation than when I have met the most grizzled and battle-hardened commanding general or green beret.  This is not just because I have a sense of the great spiritual and earthly battles they have fought, nor is it only because of their dedication to everything Holy and that I hold dear: it is also the sense of history that inspires awe in me.  When I see our bishop (or any bishop), I do not just see him, I see the whole chain of bishops stretching back to those apostles whom our Incarnate Lord first selected.  He – and they – are a tangible reminder of our roots in history and in Christ.  The Holy Spirit has called and empowered these men to lead and serve through difficult times; and they have endured our mockery, the persecution of the world, and nameless trials.  But they continue to lead and serve us and this world for one reason and one reason only (and it isn’t so they can wear a cool hat).

Conclusion
Saint Paul was sending a difficult message to the Christians of Corinth.  But like every good leader, he did not do it from his chair: he led from the front.  His battle cry was not; “go forth and conquer”, but “follow me to victory!”  This is the way he did and this is the way our bishops do it because this is the Way Christ does it.  It is the way every good leader does it. 

They have called for a charge:  Will you follow?