Today's readings were beautiful and in particular, the second reading (1 Corinthians 13:1-13), which is often spoken at weddings and as you know I have a wedding on my mind.
Love is patient, love is kind.
It is not jealous, it is not pompous,
It is not inflated, it is not rude,
it does not seek its own interests,
it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury,
it does not rejoice over wrongdoing
but rejoices with the truth.
It bears all things, believes all things,
hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never fails.
.
.
.
So faith, hope, love remain, these three;
but the greatest of these is love.
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But I was surprised to learn that this verse is often spoken at funerals as well. And now it makes sense because God is love. Perfect love. His love for us will never fail. And if you substitute the word God every time the passage refers to love, it becomes startingly clear that God is infinitely patient, merciful and loving ...
It was an emotional Sunday for me as I pondered these verses. It makes me want to abandon myself to Him, and yet ... the ego is still too strong. I keep coming back to the beatitudes: Blessed are the poor in spirit ...
So, which quality of love is the most difficult to express for you?
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12 comments:
oh. oh. oh. this is one of my very favorite passages...and yet the hardest for me, also.
Being "slow-tempered" is hard for me...and patience. Ugh. It eludes me most days.
Thank you for this reminder, my friend!
peace,
Donna
Learning not to be quick tempered is hard for me too. And not brooding over injury or injustice is a tall order. The longer you live, the harder it gets. But I can't imagine NOT trying.
It is not that I am so very quick-tempered, it's that anger is difficult for me to express and gets stuffed. And that's not good either. Learning to find the balance between being still and being calm, that's what's hard for me. Even Jesus got angry and expressed it.
And my favorite beatitude is:
Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.
I LOVE these verses. They were read at my daughter's wedding and bring me back to that lovely day every time...:) Hardest one of these to live out? maybe "Love is not rude."
We sang a song based on this scripture in church on Sunday. Both the song and your words convict me NOT to be a clanging bell or loud noise and to strive to be a kind, patient presence. With God's help, it is possible.
I, too, have a short fuse, and while I think it's better to blow up than to brood, I don't know how many times I've wanted to take back harsh words, usually moments after uttering them. Finding that balance is tough for me.
Marcia, it's hard to believe that you could ever be rude, even when angry.
Jane, the part I truncated is powerful, no? Without love, it's just noise, not music.
Patience. I wish I had more of it. Thanks for sharing this!
Yeah, well, I hate the telephone. (I mean the landline, not my cell, which ONLY my dh and kids have the number of.) I'm sure I've been short on it on many an occasion. :X
Definitely one of my favorite passages. I memorized it as a child and taught it to my own children when they were young and memorizing was easy. (I no longer find memorizing scripture easy, but I still work at it, because I like having God's word in my heart and readily accessible.) I find this whole chapter very humbling, because I fall short on almost everything. So answering your question, Vijaya, would be hard for me.
Patience, Angela, for me too. Sometimes I think I was put upon earth to learn this one thing. My children are teaching me that.
Marcia, I also hate talking on the phone.
Ev, I, too struggle with all of these. Perhaps that is why the good Lord puts some very unlovable people and circumstances in our paths, no?
We have so much growing up to do.
This was our topic from our pastor last Sunday. And everytime I see this, there is something I need to work on. I think maybe patience?
endures all things... ugh. Does this include countless times of kiddos not listening when I tell them to do something?
I suppose it does. Especially since there are countless times the Lord tells ME to do stuff that I don't do.
*sigh*
He continues to use them to teach ME! :)
hugs,
Donna
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