Daily Readings - Wed Sep 16 2020

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

In today’s readings, we are invited to reflect on the essence of love and wisdom in our Christian journey. The first reading from 1 Corinthians 12:31-13:13, often referred to as the “Hymn to Love,” reminds us that without love, even the most remarkable gifts and actions are meaningless. Paul emphasizes that love is patient, kind, and enduring, and it is the greatest virtue among faith, hope, and charity. The Gospel from Luke 7:31-35 presents Jesus comparing the current generation to children who are never satisfied, highlighting their inconsistency in criticizing both John the Baptist and Himself for their different approaches to ministry. Jesus concludes that true wisdom is justified by those who embrace God’s message with openness and love. The context of these readings is crucial. In Corinthians, Paul addresses a community divided by rivalries and a focus on spiritual gifts, urging them to prioritize love as the foundation of their faith. In the Gospel, Jesus responds to Pharisees who judge Him and John the Baptist, illustrating their inability to see the truth beyond their preconceptions. Both readings underscore that true wisdom and understanding come from a place of love and openness to God’s message. These readings relate by emphasizing that our actions and judgments must be rooted in love and discernment. Paul teaches that even the most selfless deeds without love are hollow, while Jesus shows that true wisdom is not about outward criticism but about receiving God’s message with an open heart. In our daily lives, this means that our efforts, no matter how noble, must be guided by love. We must cultivate love and discernment to truly follow God’s path. The moral lesson here is clear: love and wisdom are the heart of Christian living, and without them, our efforts are empty. Let us strive to embody love and discernment in all we do, embracing God’s message with open hearts.