Wednesday, September 19, 2012

The greatest gift


The poem on love which is contained in the texts today from the Roman Catholic Lectionary is very often used at weddings. Friar JudeWinkler comments that it was likely borrowed from a non Pauline author because of the differences in style and vocabulary from the rest of the Letter to the Corinthians. It is a powerful meditation on the power of Love. It hopefully generates thanksgiving for the gift of love that we have experienced in our lives. The recipient of love can be overwhelmed by the realization that the Other, human or Divine, is putting our well being, our happiness, our mourning and our temporal spiritual and emotional needs in the forefront of their action. The commitment of the newlywed to live up to the characteristics of love in patience, kindness, forgiveness and fidelity is a powerful promise but life in a long term relationship of love is an overpowering witness to the real mystery of this Gift from God which conquers all and endures all. The child like faith to which Paul refers is attractive and in the innocent ones it shines radiantly. As the people move in worship, in particular to the Eucharistic meal, we have the opportunity to reflect on Love which has sustained and continues to animate lives. The faithful believer shows the peace and joy of a lifetime experience of the Transcendent which has converted sickness to health, isolation to communion, rashness to patience, fear to faith, and anger to understanding. The observation of Jesus in the Gospel of Luke today may be appropriate to the fickle and those who have yet to know depth in love. The Wisdom that comes with awe at the greatest gift at work in people is the consolation of the believer.

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