The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the learning of the learned I will set aside.” Where is the wise one? 20 Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made the wisdom of the world foolish? 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world did not come to know God through wisdom, it was the will of God through the foolishness of the proclamation to save those who have faith. 22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23 but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are called, Jews and Greeks alike, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.
Paul spoke about the message of the cross. Some people are not predestined by God for salvation and others for damnation. Acceptance or rejection of Jesus’ sacrifice divides mankind into two groups – those who accept Christ crucified and those who reject Christ crucified. We make the choice. God condemns those who, through foolish worldly wisdom, reject the Gospel message and the salvific message of Christ crucified (Is. 29:14). But to those who believe and are seeking salvation, it is the power of God at work. The wise, the scribe, and the debater cannot be found because God has made the wisdom of the world foolish so they cannot know Him. Through rational thinking, man did not understand that God acted through Christ, a suffering savior for those who have believe.
A crucified Christ cannot be understood by Jews because they want to see miraculous, apocalyptic signs. Neither can it be understood by Gentiles who try to use logic and human wisdom to comprehend man’s salvation through the ‘foolishness’ of a Crucified Christ. Those Jews and Gentiles who have accepted Christ experience the power and wisdom granted them by God to understand the crucified Christ. God’s ways are different from human ways, “For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength (1 Cor. 1:25).
Almighty God, we give you thanks for the love and mercy you have shown your creation. Grant us the wisdom and understanding to have faith in the saving power of the cross. Lead our souls to salvation and the souls of those in most need of your mercy. This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen!
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References
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
Orchard, Bernard, et al. A Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture. Feb. 1953.
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