From Fr. Richard Rohr, O.F.M.

   

PARADOX

     If God is “crucified flesh” for Paul, and that is what he has fallen in love with, then everything is a disguise: weakness is really strength, wisdom is really foolishness, death is really life, matter is really spirit, religion is often slavery, and sin itself is actually the trapdoor into salvation.  People must recognize what a revolutionary thinker Paul was with such teachings as these; and we made him into a mere moralistic churchman.

So the truth lies neither in the total affirmation nor in the total denial of either side of things, but precisely in the tug of war between the two.  Hold on to that, and you will become wise and even holy.  But be prepared to displease those on either entrenched side.

 
Adapted from Great Themes of Paul

Peace and Good,
The Rev. Warren Hicks
http://stlukesworcester.org
St. Luke's Episcopal Church
921 Pleasant St. 
Worcester, MA 01602-1908
508-756-1990