1 Cor 12:31 - 13:13 / Luke 7:31-35
Paul talks about gifts: The greatest gift is love.
St. Theresa was a Carmelite nun in Lisieux, France. She died on September 30, 1897, at the age of 24. Among her writings was a passage in which she talks about her search for what special calling God had given to her to better serve the Church. She turned to Paul's letters and read that not everyone was called upon to be an apostle, a prophet, or a teacher. This left her more confused than ever. She continued reading Paul until she came to the words in today's reading: "Set your hearts, then, on the more important gifts. . The greatest of these is love." Then, she writes: "Nearly ecstatic with supreme joy in my soul, I proclaimed: 'O Jesus . . . At last I have found my calling: my calling is love.' "
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St Paul gives us today his famous hymn to Christian love. It
is greater than any charism, for charisms are vain if not rooted in love. Three
points St Paul makes about love. First, he speaks about the supremacy of love:
It is greater than all the other charismata he mentioned. From the lowest to
the highest. Love is greater than tongues, prophecies, knowledge, faith
and helping. It is more important than all possessions. It is even more
important than our life. Without it 
man is nothing. It changes a
person, ennobles and gives value to a person. Then Paul tells us not what love
is, but what it does. Paul uses in Greek 15 verbs. Verbs are the words of
action. He thus personifies love. Finally, he explains the origin and the end
of love. Faith, hope and love are the three divine virtues: They come from God;
they are his gifts. Through the Holy Spirit love is poured out in our
souls. It is like sanctifying grace. Faith is the origin: In faith man gives himself
to God. Friendship and familiarity with God is the origin of love. God is
the end of love: Love leads to God in hope. It makes God it's home.
Heaven will be love.
How are we using our gift of love to better serve God and the Church? "We are shaped and fashioned by what we love." Goethe
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We know how easy it is to chop off a branch from a tree with
a sharp axe, yet we also know it is impossible to re-attach the branch back to
the tree. When power and might are abused and misused, then the consequences
are offensive and destructive.
Hence we know that it is easier to break than to repair; it is easier to hurt
than to heal; it is easier to hate than to love. Yes, it is easier to divide
and destroy than to unite and reconcile, and with physical power and military
might, division and destruction is made very much easier. Yet the real power
and might lies in love and in its work of uniting and reconciling and healing.
In the 1st reading, St. Paul expressed the power of love in humble and simple
and quiet ways like patience and kindness, truthfulness and endurance, trusting
and hoping, and also not being jealous or boastful or conceited or rude or
selfish. Yes it is with love that we are also able to recognize loving people
who speak and live by truth, even though the world might ridicule them or push
them aside.
As Jesus said in the gospel, the world is "like children shouting to one
another while they sit in the market place" and scorns the simplicity and
the humility of love. Yet just as Wisdom is proven right by all her children,
so the power of love to heal and reconcile will prove to be mightier than the
sword that just cuts and destroys. May we always choose the way of love and
trust and hope in Jesus, our Lord of love.
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Reflection: The faith of the
leaders of the people is compared to make believe of children at play. John the
Baptist, came as prophesied by the prophet Malachi. The Pharisees and scribes
refused to be baptised. They spurned God's will. There already the split
began. The simple folk was ready to believe, the leaders refused. The sin
of unbelief is theirs. Like stubborn children, when they play dance tunes,
they refuse to dance.
When they sing dirges, they refuse to weep. John the Baptist
came as a great ascetic. They were not impressed by it. Christ came for the
wedding feast. They call him a glutton and a lover of wine. It is not God
that failed. He had sent the prophets. As experts of the law, they ought
to know. There is enough evidence. Faith is the free act of men. There is
enough light. The leaders, however, want to safeguard their own position. People
without prejudice can come to faith. Who seeks himself, will not find God.
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Let us pray: God, your name is love. You are the
source of all love. Let love become so characteristic of the disciples of your
Son that it is part of our identity and that it prompts people to say: “See how
they love one another.” Make us recognize more
that it is a precious gift that comes from your generosity. We offer you our
thanks through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. God bless.
