One of my favorite spiritual authors these days is Fr. James Martin. In one of his books, he asks readers "to imagine being asked to serve under the banner, or 'standard' of one of two leaders - Christ the King or Satan.  If one does choose to serve Christ, it must necessarily be by imitating the life of Jesus, choosing 'poverty as opposed to riches....''   I'm thinking about the idea of the Two Standards in relation to today's first reading (2 Corinthians 11:18, 21-30) in which Paul describes what it means to follow Christ.    In this letter, the Corinthians appear to be a community in some disarray, unsure of whose words to follow.  Some have preached Jesus, but are doing so in a boastful way; they're boasting about themselves, about their strength.  But Paul is clear that the ones who are truly preaching Jesus are the ones who will not boast about themselves, but will only rejoice in God.  And though Paul proclaims that he is boasting too - he names his boasting as folly and he boasts only in his weaknesses, because it is Christ that is important.  The ones who boast about themselves are following Satan (indeed, Paul even refers to Satan in verse 14).  

 

The gospel lesson today (Matthew 6:19-23) also makes a very stark distinction - the ones who store up treasures on earth do not have their heart with God.  The constant theme today is to choose the one whom you will serve, and there's a prayer echoing in the background - a prayer of hope that the one you will serve is Jesus.

 

In this year of Encountering Christ Everyday, let us raise up prayers that today, this very moment, we will serve the Christ we encounter each day.

 

—Jana M. Bennett