“EARNESTLY DESIRE THE HIGHER GIFTS OF LOVE” (1 Cor 12:31; 13:13)

⏰Wednesday of the Twenty-fourth Week of Ordinary Time 2 (19 Sept. 2018)

📖1 Cor 12:31 – 13:13; Ps 33:2-3, 4-5, 12 and 22 (R.v.3c); Luke 7:31-35

Yesterday, we reflected on the importance of using our gifts for the healing of our societal wounds of division. Today, St Paul tries to encourage us on acquiring right disposition in seeking the gifts (cf. 1Cor 12:31 – 13:13).

Why would St Paul encourage us to seek love as the greatest gift? It is because God is love and he who abides in love abide in God (1 John 4:16).

Love indeed is what the society needs to be healed because “Love is patient and kind…not jealous or boastful…not arrogant or rude…does not insist on its own way…not irritable or resentful…does not rejoice at wrong but rejoices in the right…Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends” (1Cor 13:4-8).

If that is what love means, then how would you consider a Catholic who would not employ a qualified Anglican just because of the difference in the profession of faith?
How would you consider a brother who attends a Pentecostal Church and vowed not to train his sibling in school just because the sibling desired to become a Catholic priest?
How do you see a woman who has just knelt down to receive Holy Communion but had to get up to another place because she earlier had disputes with the person kneeling next to her?
How would you see a man who refuses to talk to his wife nor eat her food over mere misunderstandings?

Listen to St John, “If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ while he hates his brother, he is a liar. How can he love God whom he does not see, if he does not love his brother whom he can see?” (1 John 4:20).

Are you ready to follow Jesus? Start by loving even your presumed enemies (Luke 6:27-36), following the example of Jesus on the cross (Luke 23:34) and his mission mandate in Matt 28:20.

As you make effort to heal the wounded world with love, may that same Love envelope you to protect you and provide your needs in this life and ensure you of eternal life in the next. Amen.

Have a glorious and healthy day in the loving embrace of God who is love par excellence. Peace be with you.