Corinth was a place where practically all the meat, sold for consumption, had first been offered to idols. For Paul, since there is one God, the Father, the idols did not really ‘exist’. Hence there was no problem in eating meat offered to the ‘so-called’ idols. However, Paul is quick to point out the rule of love which demands concern for our sisters and brothers whose “faith is weak”; our consumption of such meat may scandalise their faith. And so, for their sake, he recommends that the Christian must abstain from eating such meat.

Jesus reiterates the message – “Love your enemies”, “Do good to those who persecute you”... In other words, the Christian, in imitating Christ, is called to go out of his / her way in love for humanity. This is really the litmus test of Christianity – our capacity to love.