The epistle and the gospel for today offer an interesting commentary on each other. In the first letter to the Corinthians St. Paul tells us that knowledge inflates but love builds. Contrast a Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade balloon with a brick house. The balloon looks very impressive coming down Broadway but it is only for the day and then put away. The house takes months to build put together on a firm foundation. But it lasts. Jesus commands “stop judging.” We might think we know why he did that, what her motivations were, how they came up with the plan. That knowledge might make us feel superior but only if we love him and her and them will a firm foundation for community be built.
