(For Christ did not send me to (customarily) to baptize
but to announce the Gospel,
not in ‘reasonable wisdom’,
so that the cross of Christ
would not be emptied out….)
for the proclamation (word) of the Cross
is foolishness
to those who are being ruined
but it is the power of God
to us who are being saved.
For it has been written:
‘I will bring to ruin the wisdom of the wise,
and the shrewdness of the shrewd I will make powerless.’1
Where is wisdom?
Where is the ‘sage’?
Where is the debater of this age?
Has not God made foolish
the wisdom of this world (order)?
Because
in the wisdom of God,
the world did not know
– by wisdom
God.
God was pleased
through the foolishness of preaching
to save those who believe.
Whereas Jews ask for a sign-
Greeks seek wisdom.
But we preach Christ, crucified
-to Jews a stumbling block
-to the pagans, foolishness.
But to those who are called,
Jew or pagan,
Christ is the power of God
and wisdom of God.
Because the foolishness of God
is wiser than (the wisdom of) humanity,
and the weakness of God
is stronger than (the strength of ) humanity.
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is discord, union;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy,
For your mercy and for your truth’s sake. Amen
- Isa 29:14 ↩︎