Love never ends

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Ubi Caritas

Cape Town Camerata

Today is Wednesday the 16th of September, the feast of Saints Cornelius, Pope, and Cyprian, Bishop, in the 24th week of Ordinary Time.

The Cape Town Camerata sings Ubi Caritas: ‘Wherever love is true, God is there.’ Where is love today? Where can you find God? Reflect on this love as we enter into prayer.

4:06

Today’s reading is from Saint Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians.

1 Corinthians 12:31-13:13

But strive for the greater gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.

If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give away all my possessions, and if I hand over my body so that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end. For we know only in part, and we prophesy only in part; but when the complete comes, the partial will come to an end. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became an adult, I put an end to childish ways. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known. And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love.

7:18

Wrapped

Charlie Groves

In this great hymn to love, St Paul reminds us of the shape our lives will be if they reflect the heart of God, who is love. Where in your life do you long for your love to be more like God’s love?

Love is patient and kind. It is not envious, boastful, arrogant, or rude. Which of these words draws your attention or challenges you?

Where do you notice resistance or struggle? Ask God for the grace to notice what needs to change in the way you exercise love.

As you listen again, notice which word or phrase resonates most with you. Stay with this word or phrase and let it settle within you.

10:39

1 Corinthians 12:31-13:13

But strive for the greater gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.

If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give away all my possessions, and if I hand over my body so that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end. For we know only in part, and we prophesy only in part; but when the complete comes, the partial will come to an end. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became an adult, I put an end to childish ways. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known. And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love.

13:34

‘Now we see in a mirror dimly, but then we shall see face to face.’ Imagine standing before God, fully known and fully loved. What stirs in you as you imagine that moment? Share with God what’s on your heart.

15:23

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be

World without end

Amen