Daily Readings - Wed Sep 16 2020
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
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.