Variety: 1 Corinthians 1v27–29

Alexia Salvatierra and Peter Heltzel explore how we can live out the biblical virtue of solidarity: 

While recognising the value of every vantage point, faith-rooted community organising also understands that a fair hearing of differing perspectives is necessary for truth to emerge. Fair hearings for those with low social status are hard to come by, however. In contrast to a society that gives inordinate weight to the perspective of those with more social status, we read in 1 Corinthians 1 that “God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are, so that no one might boast in the presence of God” (1 Corinthians 1:27–29, New Revised Standard Version). To prioritise the perspective of the poor for the sake of the common good does not imply the devaluing of the gifts of those who are not poor. Instead, it acknowledges the necessity of the dance of solidarity.