1Cor 6:1-11/Psa 149:1-6,9/Luke 6:12-19.
The concern of Paul in the First Reading is principally that a believer takes a fellow believer before a pagan court.
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It must be clear that Paul is not worried about a believer being dragged unfairly before a pagan court by a non-believer.
His concern is that the one initiating the court action against a fellow believer is also a believer.
He is worried that believers expose Christian problems before unbelievers.
Paul would prefer that if there is a problem between two believers, they settle it within the Christian community and not in a court of pagans.
Paul wants that Christians consider the Spirit as the key to an interpersonal relationship in the Church.
If there is a disagreement between Christians, they should be able to resolve the problem in the community using Christian principles.
Sending such cases to pagan courts subjects Christians to public ridicule.
Paul sees in this way the importance of evangelization over personal justice.
A Christian is called to temper justice with mercy but this cannot be guaranteed in a pagan court.
The concern of Paul that Christians settle their problems within the community calls for serious consideration since the witness of the members of the community is vital for the growth of the community.
There must however be appropriate or qualified people to serve as arbitrators.
Communities need to pray for elders with wisdom who can judge in fairness and instill the virtue of charity in all members.
These elders are like the Twelve whom Jesus called to himself after a night of prayer in the Gospel Reading today.
We pray that we may be true disciples of Jesus.
When we are able to do this, we would be true witnesses of Christ transforming our human society into a community of Christian love and charity. Amen.
