REFLECTION:

I have an eight-month-old nephew, and right now he is still drinking milk from a bottle. He is slowly learning to eat baby food. And it is actually entertaining watching him try different foods because you don't need to ask him whether he likes it. His face will tell you everything.

But he is definitely not ready for solid food yet. I can't put a steak in front of him and say, “Here you go. Medium rare. Enjoy!” He’s eight months old. He’s supposed to be drinking milk.

And this is why I love Saint Paul. Paul doesn't mince words. He just says it as it is. In today's reading, he basically looks at the Corinthians and says, “I had to feed you milk, not solid food, because you weren't ready.”

In other words: You people need to grow up! And these are adults!

Why does Paul say that? Because they are fighting over who they belong to. “I belong to Paul!” “Well, I belong to Apollos!”

It's almost like us saying, “Well, I like this priest better.” “I like that administrator better.” “I liked the way we used to do things.” “Our department doesn't do it that way.” “Why did they get that and we didn't?”

So I was thinking, maybe I should start carrying a baby bottle around campus and the parish. And whenever I hear too much complaining, jealousy, rivalry, or “Well, I heard that…” I'll just walk up, hand them the bottle and say, “Here. Saint Paul says you're not ready for solid food yet.” Although, knowing some of you, I might need to order the bottles in bulk!

But Paul's point is serious. The problem isn't that we have preferences. We all have preferences. The problem is when our preferences become more important than the mission. When jealousy, rivalry, gossip, comparison, or ego begin dividing the community, Paul says that is a sign that spiritually we still have some growing up to do.

Then he gives them the solid food: “I planted, Apollos watered, but God caused the growth.”

I think that is something all of us who serve in a parish and school need to hear. Some of us plant. Some of us water. Teachers plant seeds in their students. Staff members water them. Parents plant. Coaches water. Priests plant. Administrators water. And sometimes we plant and plant and plant…and we look at the person and think, “Lord, nothing is growing here!”

Teachers, you might know that feeling. Parents definitely know that feeling. Priests know that feeling too!

But Paul reminds us: the growth is God's responsibility. Our responsibility is to be faithful.

And we see that in Jesus today. People want Jesus to stay because good things are happening. But Jesus says, “I have to go to the other towns too.” He knows the mission is bigger than one place, one group, or one person's preference.

Maybe that is what spiritual maturity looks like.

We stop asking only, “What do I want?” “What do I prefer?” “Why didn't they do it my way?” And we start asking, “What does God need from me for the mission?”

My nephew has an excuse for still drinking from a bottle. He's eight months old. What's our excuse?

So if you see me walking around the parish or school carrying a baby bottle, you might want to check what you were just complaining about!

Saint Paul challenges us today: grow up in our faith. Plant what God asks us to plant. Water what God asks us to water. Support one another in the work.

And then trust that God will cause the growth.