As Christians we are to focus on, and be committed to God. We are called to live lives that set us apart from the age in which we live. Not apart from people, not apart from relationships, but apart from the spirit, the trend of the day.

You might not get that message unless you understand a bit of history.

In the first reading Paul is speaking to the Corinthians. He spent a lot of time in Corinth, and tried to build up the Christian community there. Corinth had quite a reputation.

The city had been destroyed by the Romans and was re-established as a colony by Julius Caesar. It was the capital of the Roman Province of Achaia. Crowds came to Corinth every four years for the games. Corinth was also known for its temple dedicated to Venus, filled with female devotees dedicated to a life of licentiousness.

Corinth was a center of traffic, excitement, wealth, and vice. If people referred to you as ‘Acting the Corinthian’ they meant that you led a loose life.

This is what Paul was confronted with, and over the course of a year-and-a-half he grew frustrated, but the Lord saw him through it all.

Acts Chapter 18 tells us:

One night in a vision the Lord said to Paul, “Do not be afraid. Go on speaking, and do not be silent, for I am with you. No one will attack and harm you, for I have many people in this city.”

So he taught the word of God among them, bringing many people to conversion; some of them noble, wealthy, and learned, but the great majority neither learned, nor powerful, nor noble.

Needless to say, Paul had to stay on top of them. They lived, much as we do today, in the midst of vice, easy money, loose morals, stunning compromises. Paul had to remind them, and he has to remind us, that our focus is not to be on worldliness, but on Godliness.

People, especially non-practicing Christians and outsiders, think that the message is: It’s great to be in bad shape —“ God wants it. Don’t get married, don’t have fun, rejoice in being sad, lonely, despised. Listen to Paul again:

From now on, let those having wives act as not having them,
those weeping as not weeping,
those rejoicing as not rejoicing,
those buying as not owning,
those using the world as not using it fully.

It’s natural to say: You Christians focus so much on sadness and death —“ where’s the joy in life? They miss what we do have —“ the promise of everlasting joy. They miss what we truly desire – right living.

We can just about count our days. A recent study shows that your ethnic group, finances, and location have a lot to do with your lifespan. It certainly does, but it does not affect the span of your life. If life were of this world only I’d be concerned about my days, but life is everlasting.

That is Paul’s message. Do not act as if the things of the world are the totality of existence. Don’t bind yourself to the world or to the spirit of the age. Bind yourself to the truth:

For the world in its present form is passing away.

My brothers and sisters,

Jesus tells us:

—Blessed are you who are poor, for the Kingdom of God is yours.

A person can have all the money in the world, or can be impoverished. Regardless of our material wealth or poverty, know that we are poor only to the extent of our love, dedication, and devotion to God. Knowing our poverty we must strive to reach Him. Jesus knows we are poor and has shown us the way to a wealth that will not turn to dust.

Blessed are you who are now hungry, for you will be satisfied.

Know that our hunger is a hunger for unity with God. We can have all the food in the world or be starving. Neither counts for much unless we seek God.

Blessed are you who are now weeping, for you will laugh.

Know that we weep because of our distance from God. We can laugh or cry all the day long, but neither counts for much unless we draw close to God.

Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude and insult you, and denounce your name as evil on account of the Son of Man.

We are hated, excluded, insulted, and denounced because Jesus is a scandal to the world. Hated or loved, unless it is because our faith in Jesus Christ, it counts for nothing.

Today we honor St. Eugenia. Her name means “noble” in Greek. She was born in 280, and was the daughter of the governor of Alexandria, Egypt.

Eugenia embraced Christianity secretly in her youth, running away from her parents to live a life of prayer and self denial. When she was found she underwent persecution, especially from her father Phillip. He imprisoned her and was to have her killed. She remained faithful and eventually her father, Philip, was converted. He died a martyr’s death. Eugenia was taken to Rome where she converted many to Christ. She, along with Saints Protas and Hyacinth were martyred.

We, like Eugenia, need to keep our focus on God and our loyalty to Him. With Paul we need to focus on the kingdom. In following Christ we need to live His message. In doing so we have Jesus’ assurance:

Rejoice and leap for joy on that day!
Behold, your reward will be great in heaven.