1 Corinthians 12:31- 13:13
Strive to make the best out of the gifts of grace working
together. Yet I will show the way that is higher than all others.
If I speak out of the Spirit with the tongues of men and of
angels, but do not have love, then my speaking remains as sounding brass or
tinkling cymbal. And if I had the gift of prophecy and could speak of all the
mysteries and could impart all knowledge and, further, had the power of faith
that removes mountains, yet am without love, then I am nothing. And if I were
to give away everything that is mine, and lastly were to give away even my body
for burning, yet am without love, then all is in vain.
Love makes the soul
great;
Love fills the soul with healing goodness;
Love does not know envy;
It knows no boasting;
It does not allow falseness;
Love does not harm that which is decent.
It drives out self-seeking.
Love does not allow inner balance to be lost.
It does not bear a grudge.
It does not rejoice over injustice.
It rejoices only in the truth.
Love bears all things,
Is always prepared to have faithful trust.
It may hope for everything and is all-patient.
If love is truly present, it cannot be lost. The gift of
prophecy will one day be extinguished, the wonder of languages cease,
clairvoyant insight come to an end. Our insight is incomplete, incomplete is
our prophecy.
But one day the perfect must come, the complete consecration
– aim; then the time of the incomplete is over.
When I was still a child, I spoke as a child, and I felt and
thought as a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.
Now we still see things in dark outlines, as in a mirror.
Some day we will see everything face to face. Now my insight is incomplete, but
then I shall stand in the stream of true insight, in which recognizing and
being recognized are one.
We find permanence that bears all future within it in the
exalted triad:
In faith
In hope,
And in love.
But the greatest of these is love.
Holy Nights
January 4, 2015
1 Corinthians 12:31- 13:13
On the altar we still see the words: Peace on earth to
all of good will. What is it that makes us into people of good will? That which
turns our will toward goodness, that which makes our will beneficial, is Truth.
Lies create ill will; they literally create a will that
becomes ill, sick and ailing. Truth creates wellness. Truth creates good will,
healthy will. And a truthful good will creates love.
Love does not allow falseness
Love does not harm what is
decent
It drives out self seeking….
Love does not rejoice in
injustice, only in the truth.[1]
This is an old idea. Psalm 15 says:
Lord, who can be trusted with
power,
and who may act in your place?
Those with a passion for
justice,
who speak the truth from their
hearts;
who have let go of selfish
interests
and grown beyond their own
lives;
who see the wretched as their
family
and the poor as their flesh and
blood.
They alone are impartial
and worthy of the people's
trust.
Their compassion lights up the
whole earth,
and their kindness endures
forever.[2]
