Daily Readings - Wed Sep 19 2018
1 Corinthians
31But eagerly desire the greater gifts. And now I will show you the most excellent way.
1If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.2If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.3If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.8Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.9For we know in part and we prophesy in part,10but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears.11When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.12Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.13And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
Luke
31"To what, then, can I compare the people of this generation? What are they like?32They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to each other: "'We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not cry.'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, 'Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and "sinners."'35But wisdom is proved right 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.