1 Corinthians 5:1-8; Psalm 5:5-7,12; Luke 6:6-11
We will focus on St Pauls' first letter to the Corinthians this week - that is the first reading each day. The Corinthians were a community that St Paul had founded himself - so he was intimately concerned with their lives. He was therefore tender at times to them, but also (quite rightly) exhibits the anger of a parent when their child wrongs them. Today is a good example of the latter - the behaviour written about would deeply shock even the liberal roman culture prevalent at the time. Paul is concerned that they should not allow the old yeast of the sinner to corrupt them. They had clearly succumbed to pride, seeing the public sinner and thinking themselves immune from that temptation. Note well that although Paul says that their 'sensual body may be destroyed' he also reminds us that 'his spirit [will be] saved on the last day'.
Just like many do today, delighting in the downfall of celebrities when, like us, they are tempted, like we surely never would be. Would we?
Try to let Paul be your wiser, older brother this week as you read his letter, which is, as is everything in the bible, actually addressed to each one of us individually.