Today on the 11th Sunday of Matthew the Epistle reading comes to us from I Corinthians 9:2-12. Father Gregory shares with us Saint Paul’s way of thinking, influenced by his core belief in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The first-century Romans were status-conscious and aware of the rights bestowed on different classes of people. Christians were set apart from the Roman world because they were not class conscious, having any distinctions. Everyone was equal and to the community from their means and talents. Saint Paul makes an impassioned defense of his rights as an apostle but endures anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the Gospel of Christ. As Christians, we are permitted to do things but should we if it is not beneficial to ourselves and an obstacle to others? The Orthodox way of thinking about life’s issues is rooted in core beliefs, focused on the process and not necessarily the answers.