Msgr. Pope on Being a Fool for Christ

"In today's first reading (Thursday of the 22nd week of the year) St. Paul writes:

"Do not deceive yourselves. If any one of you thinks he is wise by the standards of this age, he should become a 'fool' so that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God's sight. As it is written: 'He catches the wise in their craftiness' and again, 'The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.' So then, no more boasting about men! (1 Cor 3:18-21).

"Ah, to be a fool for Christ! Now that is a wise thing indeed. But it is so daring and frightening that few even among priests and religious get there. To be a fool for Christ is to be mocked, scorned and hated by this world, to be the butt of jokes, to be held in derision. How many of any of us are willing to accept this?"

In a recent commentary, Monsignor Charles Pope (pastor of Holy Comforter-Saint Cyprian Parish, Washington, DC) reflected on how, if we are scorned, rebuffed, and ignored in our efforts to evangelize or to really seek to live the gospel message, we have not done anything wrong and on how "the Lord needs a few fools to risk ridicule and hatred to proclaim his gospel to a hostile world that often thinks it is a foolish doctrine that is hopelessly out of touch."

To access Msgr. Pope's complete post, please visit:

Community in Mission: On Being a Fool for Christ (2 SEP 20)