Love

19 Sep

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.  (1 Cor 12:31-13:8)

Here it is.

Probably the most used reading at weddings.

St. Paul certainly knew what he was speaking about when he wrote this wonderful treatise on love.

Love is the perfect, most excellent, spiritual gift.  It is a gift that can enhance the life of another.  It is a gift that can truly free another person.

And, as Paul indicates, it is a gift that never fails.

Anything of this earth will tarnish, fray, or break.

Love, however, being a great spiritual gift from God, will never break.  It will never fade.  It will never tarnish.  It will always be resplendent.

As it is resplendent, so should we be.

We are called to be a people of love.

If we are, we will never fear to give of our love to anyone who comes into our lives.

Love does not distinguish one person from another.  Love does not withhold.  Love does not discriminate.  Love gives of itself freely, completely, unconditionally.

FAITH ACTION:  Are there special people in your life whom you may have been less than loving toward lately?  Let that person or those people know that you truly care.