A reading from the first Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians 12:31-13:13
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 inflated, 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: " So faith, hope, love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love."
The Pharisees always were following Jesus in spite of disliking, disagreeing and despising Him. They cannot let their hearts and minds allow His words to sink in, take root and grow.
John the Baptist fasted, lived in the desert and preached, and he was thought to be possessed by a demon. Jesus ate with, drank with and befriended sinners and was called a glutton and a drunkard. No love there from the Pharisees.
When we don't see eye to eye it's like we "call to one another" in an echo chamber. We hear only our words. At times we walk away from others, non better, because our pride and arrogance won't allow us to love.
Love is the needed and essential spiritual gift, lifting us up, pressing on and continuing on. Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, not pompous, not inflated or rude, not quick tempered, not brooding, and not forgiving. This popular reading of 1 Corinthians 13 is usually read at weddings as it defines and shapes the wedding couple and their future.
God, who is love, never fails.
