The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge and comfort us with the gift of Love that opens our understanding to great life and Wisdom.
The reading from the First Letter of Paul to the Corinthians proclaims the Gift of Love.
* [13:1–13] This chapter involves a shift of perspective and a new point. All or part of the material may once have been an independent piece in the style of Hellenistic eulogies of virtues, but it is now integrated, by editing, into the context of 1 Cor 12–14 (cf. the reference to tongues and prophecy) and into the letter as a whole (cf. the references to knowledge and to behavior). The function of 1 Cor 13 within the discussion of spiritual gifts is to relativize all the charisms by contrasting them with the more basic, pervasive, and enduring value that gives them their purpose and their effectiveness. The rhetoric of this chapter is striking.
* [13:1–3] An inventory of gifts, arranged in careful gradation: neither tongues (on the lowest rung), nor prophecy, knowledge, or faith, nor even self-sacrifice has value unless informed by love.
* [13:4–7] This paragraph is developed by personification and enumeration, defining love by what it does or does not do. The Greek contains fifteen verbs; it is natural to translate many of them by adjectives in English.
* [13:8–13] The final paragraph announces its topic, Love never fails (1 Cor 13:8), then develops the permanence of love in contrast to the charisms (1 Cor 13:9–12), and finally asserts love’s superiority even over the other “theological virtues” (1 Cor 13:13).
* [13:13] In speaking of love, Paul is led by spontaneous association to mention faith and hope as well. They are already a well-known triad (cf. 1 Thes 1:3), three interrelated (cf. 1 Cor 13:7) features of Christian life, more fundamental than any particular charism. The greatest…is love: love is operative even within the other members of the triad (7), so that it has a certain primacy among them. Or, if the perspective is temporal, love will remain (cf. “never fails,” 1 Cor 13:8) even when faith has yielded to sight and hope to possession. (1 Corinthians, CHAPTER 13 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 33 praises the Greatness and Goodness of God.
* [Psalm 33] A hymn in which the just are invited (Ps 33:1–3) to praise God, who by a mere word (Ps 33:4–5) created the three-tiered universe of the heavens, the cosmic waters, and the earth (Ps 33:6–9). Human words, in contrast, effect nothing (Ps 33:10–11). The greatness of human beings consists in God’s choosing them as a special people and their faithful response (Ps 33:12–22). (Psalms, PSALM 33 | USCCB, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus shares how Wisdom is Vindicated.
* [7:31–35] See note on Mt 11:16–19. (Luke, CHAPTER 7 | USCCB, n.d.)
Carol Zuegner comments that Love never fails. We might fail each other. We might fail ourselves. But God’s love never fails even when we feel like a clashing cymbal. We need to hear that message over and over again.
The way to God is love. In the Gospel, Jesus uses the examples of different paths. It can be hard for people to embrace the idea that love is kind and extends to the tax collector and sinners. Love can “endure all things” even when we don’t see the way out of our own difficulties.
I need to remember in times of celebration of love and times when it seems that love is absent, that truly love is patient and kind. That means I too must try to be patient and kind, to make sure that my own resounding gong and clashing cymbal proclaim hope, faith and most of all love in my thoughts and my actions. (Zuegner, n.d.)
Don Schwager quotes “The song and dances of the prophets,” by Ambrose of Milan, 339-397 A.D.
"'Therefore, wisdom is justified by all her children.' He fittingly says 'by all,' because justice is preserved around all. In order that an acceptance of the faithful may happen, a rejection of the unbelieving must occur. Very many Greeks say this, "Wisdom is justified by all her works," because the duty of justice is to preserve the measure around the merit of each. It aptly says, "We have piped to you, and you have not danced." Moses sang a song when he stopped the flow in the Red Sea for the crossing of the Jews (Exodus 15:1-18), and the same waves encircled the horses of the Egyptians and, falling back, drowned their riders. Isaiah sang a song of his beloved's vineyard (Isaiah 5:1-7), signifying that the people who before had been fruitful with abundant virtues would be desolate through shameful acts. The Hebrews sang a song when the soles of their feet grew moist at the touch of the bedewing flame, and while all burned within and without, the harmless fire caressed them alone and did not scorch (Daniel 3:19-25). Habakkuk also learned to assuage universal grief with a song and prophesied that the sweet passion of the Lord would happen for the faithful (Habakkuk 3:13). The prophets sang songs with spiritual measures, resounding with prophecies of universal salvation. The prophets wept, softening the hard hearts of the Jews with sorrowful lamentations" (Isaiah 46:12). (excerpt from EXPOSITION OF THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 6.6-7) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on 1 Corinthians 12:31–13:13 notes how Paul describes love in 1 Corinthians 13:4-6.and urges us to imagine what love might look like for us.
Love never fails (13:8). The love that never fails comes directly from God. It’s the love he has poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5). This is an eternal love that leads us right into the courts of heaven. It’s a love that fills us to overflowing and empowers us to love one another the way he loves us.
May we all learn to live in that love!
“Lord, lead me in the most excellent way—the way of your love!” (Meditation on 1 Corinthians 12:31–13:13, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments on the great poem on love that reviews spiritual gifts and proclaims the most excellent way that avoids self aggrandizement. We are called to use our gifts for the building up of the Kingdom. Friar Jude reminds us to be aware that God may act in our lives in ways that we do not expect.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Palestinian Quaker Jean Zaru who reflects upon her lifelong commitment to peacemaking. Zaru considers the inward and outward dimensions of her commitment to peace.
As Palestinian women, we have a special burden and service. We are constantly being told to be peaceful. But the inner peace of which I speak is not simply being nice, or being passive, or permitting oneself to be trampled upon without protest. It is not passive nonviolence, but the nonviolence of courageous action.…
What is that inner force that drives us, that provides regeneration and perseverance to speak the truth that desperately needs to be spoken in this moment of history?… If I deserve credit for courage, it is not for anything I do here, but for continuing in my daily struggle under occupation on so many fronts, for remaining samideh (steadfast) and, all the while, remaining open to love, to the beauty of the earth, and contributing to its healing when it is violated. (Rohr, n.d.)
We ponder the message we receive today from the great tribute to love in 1 Corinthians 13 and open ourselves to the promptings of the Spirit to live in that Love.
References
Luke, CHAPTER 7 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved September 18, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/7?31
Meditation on 1 Corinthians 12:31–13:13. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved September 18, 2024, from https://wau.org/meditations/2024/09/18/1075291/
1 Corinthians, CHAPTER 13 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved September 18, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1corinthians/13
Psalms, PSALM 33 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved September 18, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/33?2
Rohr, R. (n.d.). Remaining Steadfast in Nonviolence. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved September 18, 2024, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/remaining-steadfast-in-nonviolence/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). How Shall I Compare This Generation? Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved September 18, 2024, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2024&date=sep18
Zuegner, C. (n.d.). Daily Reflection Of Creighton University's Online Ministries. OnlineMinistries. Retrieved September 18, 2024, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/091824.html
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