6th Week after Holy Cross

1 Corinthians 6:1-11

When any of you has a grievance against another, do you dare to take
it to court before the unrighteous, instead of taking it before the saints?
Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world
is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases? Do you
not know that we are to judge angels — to say nothing of ordinary matters?
If you have ordinary cases, then, do you appoint as judges those
who have no standing in the church? I say this to your shame. Can it
be that there is no one among you wise enough to decide between one
believer and another, but a believer goes to court against a believer —
and before unbelievers at that? In fact, to have lawsuits at all with one
another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather be wronged? Why
not rather be defrauded? But you yourselves wrong and defraud — and
believers at that. Do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the
kingdom of God? Do not be deceived! Fornicators, idolaters, adulterers,
male prostitutes, sodomites, thieves, the greedy, drunkards, revilers,
robbers — none of these will inherit the kingdom of God. And this is
what some of you used to be. But you were washed, you were sanctified,
you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the
Spirit of our God.

Matthew 13,1-9.
That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the lake.
Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach.
And he told them many things in parables, saying: ‘Listen! A sower went out to sow.
And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up.
Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil.
But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away.
Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them.
Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
Let anyone with ears listen!’

What should we do within the Church and how should we reach out to those outside of the Church? Paul tells us how to act within the Church, living lives free of sin and in good relationship with each other. Jesus tells us that we should spread the good news even to those who will not receive it. Our job is to preach to others without worrying whether or not they will reject us. Rather we share the good news because it is good news.

Lord, have mercy on us and save us.
O Lord,
guard our thoughts from the errors of this troubled world
and awaken spiritual life within us,
through meditation on your life-giving commandments.
Thus, with enlightened thoughts, the reflections of your grace, our hearts will be purified of vain endeavors,
and we shall glorify you in the holy temple of your majesty,
now and forever.
Amen.