Reflections on “Detached from the World Enough to Leave It and to Love It” (1st Corinthians 7:29-31), the Third Sunday after the Epiphany, January 22, 2012

Because the time is short, Saint Paul by inspiration of the Holy Spirit instructed that if we have a [spouse] (he writes “wife”), we ought to live as if we didn’t, that if we mourn as though we were not mourning, that if we rejoice as though we were not rejoicing, that if we buy the world’s goods as if we had none of them, and that if we deal with the world as if we had no dealings with it (1st Corinthians 7:29-31). These words are not be taken to mean that we should be unfaithful or despise the gifts of God. Of course not. Then what do the words mean? Luther brings out the meaning in the famous hymn of the Reformation A Mighty Fortress Is Our God: “Were [evil foes] to take our house, goods, honor, child, or spouse, though life be wrenched away, they cannot win the day. The Kingdom’s ours forever!” That is, we are — in Christ — given a proper outlook about life. A James’ Bond movie came out years ago called The World Is Not Enough. The title implies insatiable greed, but in a different way the words themselves are true: the world is not enough. The world — and nothing in it — can give us what we really need. It’s inherent limitation means as St. Paul writes, “for the present form of this world is passing away. (1st Cor. 7:31b).” Who wants to bank on what turns to dust? We should love and honor our spouses, we should thank God for the incredible gifts which fill our lives, but none of these persons nor things can provide the eternal life we all long for.

We must therefore be trained to trust in God who is eternal over and above that which is passing. Don’t get too attached to anything. It is simple, and yet profound wisdom. We really don’t like the counsel. The flesh drives us to continue striving for that which can never satisfy our souls. Solomon says for example whoever loves money never has enough (Ecclesiates 5:10). That which turns to dust can never leave a good taste in one’s mouth. So let us keep the world in proper perspective.

But this isn’t the end of our view of the world. While we don’t get too attached to good things that can never replace the Giver of those good things, and while we are to avoid the evil influences in the world, there is another aspect of the world we must love: the people who occupy it for whom Jesus lived, died, and rose.

In this respect we are called to love the world like God does. The people who need to hear the Gospel and believe in it are people for whom God desires to grant new spirits and have lives that surpass the present form of the world that is passing. Jonah was led back to Nineveh and Jesus calls his disciples to be fishers of men.

Don’t get too attached. Leave that part of your born-again heart for Jesus, but love the world so that you’ll put first things first: sharing the love of God and the Gospel of Christ.

God’s Peace,

Dr. Espinosa

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