1 Corinthians 5:6-81 Corinthians 5:6-8 --

• Brothers and sisters:Brothers and sisters:• Do you not know that a little yeast leavens all the Do you not know that a little yeast leavens all the

dough?dough?• Clear out the old yeast, so that you may become a Clear out the old yeast, so that you may become a

fresh batch of dough, inasmuch as you are fresh batch of dough, inasmuch as you are unleavened.unleavened.

• For our paschal lamb, Christ, has been sacrificed.For our paschal lamb, Christ, has been sacrificed.• Therefore, let us celebrate the feast,Therefore, let us celebrate the feast,

not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.sincerity and truth.

• The background of this reading is that a member The background of this reading is that a member of the church in Corinth is having an affair with of the church in Corinth is having an affair with his mother or stepmother.his mother or stepmother.

• St. Paul is pointing out that a church cannot allow St. Paul is pointing out that a church cannot allow this type of public sin because it will divide and this type of public sin because it will divide and polarize a Christian community.polarize a Christian community.

• St. Paul doesn’t expect the believers to be sinless.St. Paul doesn’t expect the believers to be sinless.• We know people in our everyday lives who want We know people in our everyday lives who want

to “Live life on their own terms.”to “Live life on their own terms.”• Allowing these public sinners to remain in our Allowing these public sinners to remain in our

Church communities condones such behavior.Church communities condones such behavior.• Paul is telling the Corinthians to case out those Paul is telling the Corinthians to case out those

who refuse to repent.who refuse to repent.