Brothers and sisters: Strive eagerly for the greatest spiritual gifts. But I shall show you a still more excellent way. If I speak in human and angelic tongues but do not have love, I am a resounding gong or a clashing cymbal. And if I have the gift of prophecy and comprehend all mysteries and all knowledge; if I have all faith so as to move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give away everything I own, and if I hand my body over so that I may boast but do not have love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, love is not pompous, it is not in flated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. If there are prophecies, they will be brought to nothing; if tongues, they will cease; if knowledge, it will be brought to nothing. For we know partially and we prophesy partially, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. When I was a child, I used to talk as a child, think as a child, reason as a child; when I became a man, I put aside childish things. At present we see indistinctly, as in a mirror, but then face to face. At present I know partially; then I shall know fully, as I am fully known. So faith, hope, love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
REFLECTION
but the greatest of these is love.
The famous discourse on love is 1 Corinthians 13. Love is not fleeting feelings, or reactions to what people do for us or butterflies in our tummies. The Apostle Paul teaches that love (agape) is the supreme Christian virtue.
We might be gifted with a beautiful voice, ability to memorize and debate, being top of the class, knowledgeable, spend time in prayer or perform great sacrifices, but without love they are all meaningless and completely empty.
Love is defined by active, daily choices of patience, kindness, humility, not insisting on our own way, not criticizing nor finding fault
Love never fails. So at the end of the day, Jesus will ask us not how we did things but did we do all with love. What will our answer be?
Prayer for the Love of Jesus
by St Alphonss Liguori
’"The Practice of the Love of Jesus Christ"
O most loving Jesus, teach me to love You with my whole heart.
When I am impatient, make me patient. When I am harsh, make me kind. When I am jealous, proud, or resentful, fill my heart with Your love.
Help me to bear all things, believe all things, hope all things, and endure all things for love of You.
Jesus, let Your love reign within me, so that I may see others as You see them, forgive as You forgive, and love as You love.
May everything I do begin in love, be sustained by love, and lead me closer to You.
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