Daily Readings - Wed Sep 18 2024
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 reminded of the essence of living a virtuous life. The first reading from 1 Corinthians emphasizes the primacy of love, or charity, as the greatest virtue. Paul illustrates that without love, even the most impressive spiritual gifts are hollow. Love is patient, kind, and enduring, and it is this love that truly matters. In the Gospel, Luke presents Jesus comparing the current generation to discontented children, highlighting the futility of trying to please everyone. Jesus points out that true wisdom is recognized by those who embrace it, not by those who criticize without understanding.
Both readings offer insights into the human condition. The Corinthians were divided, focusing on spiritual gifts without the love that should motivate them. Jesus, in Luke, faces criticism from those who cannot see the wisdom in his actions. Together, these passages teach us that a life of virtue requires both internal love and external wisdom. They encourage us to look beyond superficial criticisms and focus on living with integrity and compassion.
In our daily lives, we often face similar challenges—criticism, expectations, and the pressure to conform. The readings remind us to focus on love and wisdom rather than seeking approval. True fulfillment comes from living with love and integrity, not from external validation. Let us strive to embody the virtues of patience, kindness, and enduring love, recognizing that wisdom is justified by those who live it.