sincerity – The Noontimes

2 Corinthians 1: Changing Plans

2 Corinthians 1: Changing Plans

Monday, August 25, 2025

If we want to live in relationship with others, we will find it necessary to change our plans; sometimes this is quite easy to do and at other times we suffer change at great cost. Events occur not as we would wish them. They often take on a life of their own. In today’s reading we have the opportunity to examine a model for authentic accommodation in relationship with others. When we make room for God in every connection we make with others, we have the guarantee of God’s simplicity, sincerity, and grace. We can be confident that no matter the change required of us, we will flourish and thrive.

When we read Paul’s two letters to the church in Corinth, we see the importance of flexibility and constancy in all relationships. While it is important to remain authentic and faithful, it is also essential to allow for some give and take as circumstances require. As we read through these epistles, it is clear that there are some disagreements and differences of opinion that have the potential to create permanent rifts. Important connections have been established and nurtured; breaches must be bridged. Cleverly, or perhaps by God’s grace, Paul begins with himself. “Since Paul’s own conduct will be under discussion here, he prefaces this section with a statement about his habitual behavior and attitude toward the community. He protests his openness, single-mindedness, and conformity to God’s grace; he hopes that his relationship with them will be marked by mutual understanding and pride, which will constantly increase until it reaches its climax at the judgment.” (Senior 277) As we read the opening chapter of 2 Corinthians we understand that a change of plans has caused anxiety and upset. Paul addresses the problem by beginning with himself – and by falling back on God.

Simplicity, sincerity, and the grace of God: These qualities are given to us by God the Father; these traits are modeled for us by Jesus; these virtues are renewed in us by the Spirit.

When we must change plans we must keep things simple. Adding more jumble to an already stressed schedule does us and those we work and live with nothing but harm.

When we must change plans we must be honest. It is important to take the time to examine motives and look for hidden agendas. Any plan that is not genuine is not needed. Any plan that comes from deceit brings ruin.

When we must change plans we must do so with good will, considering the common benefit. When a community must alter plans to please only one or two of its members, morale plummets and cooperation disappears.

Simplicity, sincerity, and the grace of God. Paul outlines for us the opening step in bridging a rift between colleagues, friends or loved ones. We begin with ourselves. And we look for God’s plainness. We look for God’s straightforwardness. We look for God’s beauty. We look for God’s blessing in all we say and do.

A re-post from August 2, 2011.

Senior, Donald, ed. THE CATHOLIC STUDY BIBLE. New York, Oxford University Press, 1990. 277. Print.

Images from: https://lisanotes.com/when-plans-change/ and https://barbroose.com/will-you-allow-god-to-change-your-plans/

August 25, 2025

authenticity, change, God’s grace, plans, relationships, rifts, simplicity, sincerity, St. Paul

Jeremiah 3: Sincere and Insincere Conversion

Thursday, July 22, 2021

Jeremiah 3

Sincere and Insincere Conversion

In chapters 3 and 4 of Jeremiah we see how the two kingdoms of Israel and Judah turned from the Lord their God to a life of idol worship and harlotry. Let us consider some thoughts from The Dilemma of Narcissus by Louis Lavelle (W.T Gairdner, Tr. Larson Publications, Burdett, N.Y. 1993), a portion of which was published in the May 2007 issue of MAGNIFICAT. His words ask us to think of sincerity as a continual growth process rather than a character trait or a commodity to be gained.

To be sincere is to show oneself, but at the same time . . . one is making oneself.

Sincerity must reach out, beyond all speech, to an invisible inner life.

Sincerity appears only when the inner life begins to be incarnated in acts which determine both our true being and our destiny.

True sincerity is an accomplishment. And it is quite conceivable that one should miss it, whether through laziness or through fear, or because one finds it easier, or more expedient to yield to public opinion and to renounce oneself, letting oneself be dragged unremittingly down the slope of social conformity.

In sincerity, the act by which we find ourselves and the act by which we make ourselves are one and the same. Sincerity is at once the attention which arouses our potentialities, and the courage which gives them form, without which they would be nothing.

Sincerity challenges all the voices which call to me from without, and commands me to descend into my heart’s heart. It is always a return to the source. It makes me a being perpetually being born.

Sincerity liberates us from every preoccupation with public opinion or with the effect we are producing. It brings us back to our own origin, showing us to ourselves as we were when we left the Creator’s hands, when life first flashed forth, and before outer appearances had begun to seduce us, or we had learned the art of pretending.

It is rectitude of a will which admits no duplicity, no evasion, and no dissembling, between man and other men.

Sincerity is spiritual nobility. For the sincere man seeks to live under the open sky; he alone has enough self-respect to hide nothing from himself, and to expect nothing except from the truth; he alone is not content merely to appear, but establishes himself so firmly in being that for him being is indistinguishable from appearance.

Sincerity is the act by which I put myself under the eye of God; there is no other sincerity.

In today’s reading, Jeremiah calls the wayward Israel and Judah to sincerity. He warns Judah that her sin is more grave than that of Israel who first strayed. Why? Because the traitor sister did not return to me wholeheartedly, but insincerely.

We often lament the lack of sincerity in others, but this week we might take time to examine our inner self for the presence or lack of sincerity, and to return to the paths we know are just and merciful. We might spend a few minutes reflecting on our own spiritual nobility. How do we reflect God to others? What social slopes are we willing to slide down? To what social conformities do we bow? Do we have the courage to rise to our potentialities? What inner life do we incarnate with our speech and actions? With what duplicities are we content? Do we challenge the voices without and descend to our heart’s heart?

In God’s Eyes

God in Heaven, God on Earth, call to us . . . we want to return to your hands.

God Incarnate, God Abiding, remain in us . . . we want to follow your feet.

God Consoling, God of Wisdom, bring us strength . . . we know what we must do.

God of Freedom, God of Truth, we feel your presence . . . we come back to your heart.

God of All, God of Each, our hearts sing praise . . . we seek to live sincerely . . . in your eyes.

Adapted from a reflection written on February 2, 2008.

Cameron, Peter John. “Meditation of the Day.” MAGNIFICAT. 21.5 (2007): 298-300. Print.

Image from: http://www.tiptopsigns.com/Chinese-Symbol-Decals-p-1-c-96.html

July 22, 2021

duplicity, Louis Lavelle, potential, sincerity, social conformity, spiritual nobility, truth

Romans 2:12-16: Our Interior Law – Part I

Thursday, February 25, 2021

Romans 2:12-16

Our Interior Law – Part I

Knowing the Law and living the Law are not equal. Can a man or a woman be a preacher of the Good News and still sin greatly? Yes. Can one who does not even know about the Law live a life according to that Law? Yes. The privilege of having been schooled in the Law does not bring with it an automatic membership into an exclusive club. One must demonstrate by outward actions that this knowledge has transformed one’s life; and this knowledge is available to all of us, even if we have not received it as a birthright.

Possessing the Law. Acting the Law. Being justified in and by the Law. Paul writes of justification often and when does he means to remind us that is our measure of holiness. We become justified – or redeemed and transformed – when we act in and through and for God.

Paul is writing about integrity here. He asks us to take a look to ourselves to see if what we say matches what we do. Beyond this simple statement is the further thinking that it is not enough to carry out in our action what we say we believe, we must also be sincere in these outward signs of our inward selves; because it is the interior that has worth as opposed to the exterior. It is the interior as portrayed by the exterior that speaks to the world who we are and who we believe God to be. Body and soul ought not operate in two different worlds; for when they do our transformation and justification are impossible.

Paul calls out his fellow Jews for their hypocrisy in not recognizing the Word in the person of the Risen Christ; but he also calls out all people of all times and places to engage with the Risen Christ ourselves rather than rely on the words of an exterior, written Law that keep us safe but that do not redeem or transform us. Paul encourages each of us to see the separation between saying and doing as our measure of self that matters most for it mirrors our separation from Christ who is our vital guide and support. And it is this separation from Christ that makes our own transformation and redemption so difficult to realize.

So how do we avoid this splitting of self and this separation from Christ? We examine both our words and actions to see that they align and that they are sincere; and we assure that the interior law we carry in our hearts . . . can be plainly seen by ourselves and others in all that we think . . . in all that we say . . . and in all that we do.

Adapted from a reflection written on January 26, 2009.

Image from: http://ipowerproject.com/profiles/blog/show?id=2057690%3ABlogPost%3A1054496&commentId=2057690%3AComment%3A1076358&xg_source=activity

To learn more about what The Law means in a scriptural context, go to: http://biblehub.com/dictionary/l/law.htm

February 25, 2021

integrity, justification, sincerity, The Law, transformation

Sirach 5: Presumption

Thursday, February 29, 2020

Sirach 5: Presumption

Rely not on your wealth; say not “I have the power”. Rely not on your strength in following the desires of your heart . . . Delay not your conversion to the Lord, put it not off from day to day.

I am always moved by the simplicity yet gravity of the words of Ben Sirach and their ability to reach across the millennia to us. The use of the delayed negative is effective here. Ben Sirach gets our attention by reversing the word order in these negative commands, luring us in with the concepts we use to filter our thoughts and actions: self-reliance, belief in might making right, the power of fortune and fame.

As humans – and particularly as citizens of the free world – we are tempted to think that all we have and all we do are ours by our own merit. Our soul must put aside this presumption. This is the conversion to which we are called. What are the results of our humility before God?

Sincerity in speech . . . our words can both destroy and heal . . . ourselves and others.

Winnow not in every wind, and start off not in every direction. Be consistent in your thoughts; steadfast to your words. Be swift to hear, but slow to answer . . . Honor and dishonor through talking!

In all problems, at all times, for all reasons, in all relationships . . . our presumption is the stumbling block to true and total conversion. Humility in all things, with all people, in all times . . . humility before God . . . this is the way to finding the answers we seek. Be swift to hear, but slow to answer . . . lest we presume much and know little.

Just last week I was listening to NPR when I heard about a recent study showing that today’s children in the elementary grades are suffering from an over large amount of self-esteem which leads to a sense of entitlement. Jesus Ben Sirach speaks to those families in which this kind of narcissism is nurtured. He tells us today that when we put presumption aside we are better able to see ourselves as God sees us. He also tells us that a life lived without presumption is fertile ground in which sincerity may grow and flourish. And this sincerity brings forth justice . . . for ourselves . . . and for God’s kingdom. Let us delay not our conversion to the Lord . . . let us put it not off even one day.

Once we submit to God’s love for us and agree to do away with all that presumes we are our own creation . . . then will we know the peace and serenity we seek.

Delay not your conversion to God.

Image from: http://spiritualhealingsource.com/?p=2669

Written on January 8, 2009; revised and posted today as a Favorite.

February 20, 2020

humility, justice, sincerity

Tag: sincerity

2 Corinthians 1: Changing Plans

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Jeremiah 3: Sincere and Insincere Conversion

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Romans 2:12-16: Our Interior Law – Part I

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Sirach 5: Presumption

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