Heirs of Paul

Monday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time

Col 1:24-2:3

(link to readings)

I had to go to my resources for this text.  It is so dense and difficult for the modern reader.  What does Paul mean?

The greek here is especially difficult to translate.  And perhaps even more importantly so is the social context of first century collectivist Mediterranean life i.e. totally foreign to our modern individual selves centered life.  Paul, the charismatic founder of the community is nearing death.  He hasn't seen these brothers and sisters face to face and doesn't promise that he will.  He is cosmic in his vision of how he relates to the Church at Colossae.  God is Paul's patron and only teacher.  His commodity is God's mystery…the mystery of Christ.  Paul pays it forward to the Colossian community that they might have all the riches of fully assured understanding.

Perhaps he is anticipating the difficulty that communities always have when they lose charismatic leaders.  Jesus faced the same thing.  That rag tag group of disciples didn't seem to have the tools to see beyond the cross.  But ultimately they had the eyes to see the resurrection.  And as with Jesus and the disciples, so with Paul and the Pauline communities.  Or this heir of Paul wouldn't be here at this desk typing away.

St Paul, pray for me!