Please read the Scripture passage before the homily.
The Corinthians had problems. They seem to have divided themselves into camps, based, partially, on who had baptized them. This was why Paul asserted that he was not sent to baptize, but to preach. Today we could say that it is not the person who pours the water that is important because, no matter who administers the baptism, it is Jesus who does the baptizing.
The one who preaches passes on the Word of God. Paul had come to Corinth with a weakness of some kind, but he preached with a strength that came from God. If we were to judge Paul’s preaching success by his human appearance, we should have to say that he did not stand a chance of converting any Corinthian.
Human wisdom considers apparent weaknesses as somehow dehumanizing a person and as devaluating the person’s message. Human wisdom would consider any apparent weakness shown by God as invalidating God.
Such thinking would find Christ’s death as disproving his message. Such thinking would also find paradoxes in God’s word as signs that God’s words have no validity.
Paul, however, affirms that God’s weakness is stronger than human strength, and that God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom.
What, then, is the wisdom or the power of baptism? It is that water, which cleanses, quenches thirst, provides needed rain and many other necessary uses for life, also has the power to transmit Christ’s life and power to us, making us children of God and forgiving sins. It is also the wisdom that enables us to see beyond appearances and live as God’s own children.
What, then, can we say about Christ? Although he may seem to be God’s weakness and stupidity, in reality Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God, much stronger and wiser than human strength and wisdom.