Daily Readings - Wed Sep 19 2018

1 Corinthians

Chapter 12

³¹But be zealous for the better charisms. And I reveal to you a yet more excellent way

¹If I were to speak in the language of men, or of Angels, yet not have charity, I would be like a clanging bell or a crashing cymbal²And if I have prophecy, and learn every mystery, and obtain all knowledge, and possess all faith, so that I could move mountains, yet not have charity, then I am nothing³And if I distribute all my goods in order to feed the poor, and if I hand over my body to be burned, yet not have charity, it offers me nothing⁴Charity is patient, is kind. Charity does not envy, does not act wrongly, is not inflated⁵Charity is not ambitious, does not seek for itself, is not provoked to anger, devises no evil⁶Charity does not rejoice over iniquity, but rejoices in truth⁷Charity suffers all, believes all, hopes all, endures all⁸Charity is never torn away, even if prophecies pass away, or languages cease, or knowledge is destroyed⁹For we know only in part, and we prophesy only in part¹⁰But when the perfect arrives, the imperfect passes away¹¹When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I understood like a child, I thought like a child. But when I became a man, I put aside the things of a child¹²Now we see through a glass darkly. But then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know, even as I am known¹³But for now, these three continue: faith, hope, and charity. And the greatest of these is charity

Luke

Chapter 7

³¹Then the Lord said: "Therefore, to what shall I compare the men of this generation? And to what are they similar³²They are like children sitting in the marketplace, talking with one another, and saying: ‘We sang to you, and you did not dance. We lamented, and you did not weep.³³For John the Baptist came, neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.³⁴The Son of man came, eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Behold, a voracious man and a drinker of wine, a friend of tax collectors and of sinners.³⁵But wisdom is justified by all her children.

Sermon

Dear friends in Christ, Today’s readings invite us to reflect on the essence of living a life rooted in love and wisdom. In the first reading from 1 Corinthians, St. Paul reminds us that without charity, all our gifts and actions are empty. He beautifully describes charity as patient, kind, and enduring, emphasizing that it is the greatest of all virtues. This passage is part of Paul’s larger discussion on spiritual gifts, urging the Corinthians to focus on the most important gift of all—love. In the Gospel, Jesus uses a parable to illustrate the inconsistency of those who criticize both John the Baptist and himself. John was accused of being too austere, while Jesus was criticized for being too worldly. Jesus’ words highlight the fickle nature of those who refuse to see the truth. This passage is part of Luke’s narrative, where Jesus responds to the Pharisees’ accusations, emphasizing that true wisdom is justified by its fruits. Both readings remind us that living a virtuous life is not about external appearances or fleeting opinions but about cultivating love and integrity. Paul’s emphasis on charity and Jesus’ parable about wisdom call us to focus on what truly matters: living with compassion, humility, and sincerity. In a world often driven by criticism and division, we are invited to anchor our lives in the enduring power of love and wisdom. May we strive to embody the charity that St. Paul describes and embrace the wisdom that Jesus teaches. Let us not be swayed by the shifting tides of opinion but instead remain steadfast in our commitment to love and truth. In doing so, we will bear fruit that lasts and reflect the heart of God in all we do. Amen.