Reflection on Today's Reading, 24th Week in Ordinary Time Year II, and the Memorial of St. Cornelius and St. Cyprian, September 16th, 2020
Texts: 1Cor. 12:31-13:13; Ps. 33:2-5.12.22; Luke 7:31-35
Some of the time, that which is precious and important is unpopular. While people who love are unpopular and considered fool, people with the gifts of healing, miracle, prophecy or speaking in tongues are popular and highly revered. While those who love are hurt, wounded and languish in pain, those who have other gifts are appreciated and honoured. So it was for the people of Corinth and that made St. Paul awakened them to the most precious and important gift which is love. St. Pau speaks of love as a higher and more excellent gift. He says, "Brethren: Earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you the more excellent way. If i speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not 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 faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver my body to be burnt, but have not love, I gain nothing". Love is the soul of Christian activities and actions. Love is the source and summit of christian practices. Without Love christian activities are nothing; they have no meaning". Without Love all our works are of no repute, but with love we are filled with good works.
Love is like a foundation of a house hid beneath the ground, but holds the beautiful edifice outside. Love makes one bears all things, it comes with patience, kindness, perseverance, conviction and humility.
Where there is no love, nothing is acceptable; there will always be complaint and excuses. The society depicted in today's gospel reading is the society where love is lost already. They complained and always have something to say to disregard whichever way God has chosen to save them. They were jealous, rude and boastful of their knowledge and understanding.
St. Cyprian and St. Cornelius, whose memorial is today, made love their priority and they became saints. Cyprian was a bishop while Cornelius was Pope. They accepted martyrdom for their love of God and love of the people. For the love of the people because they wanted to be examples to them and by so doing save them. St. Cyprian, in his letter to Cornelius, says, "In confessing your faith you showed the way to your brethren, and the confession of the leader was enhanced by that of his brethren. While you go before to glory of eternal life, you have made many others your companions in glory, you persuaded the people to declare themselves Christians by first making profession of your own faith on behalf of all".
We are called, today, to love. Love is the greatest gift man can ever have. St. Paul says, "So faith, hope, love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love". It is worthy to say without love, no salvation.
Lord our God, fill us with love that we might abide in you. Amen.
Fr. Andrew Olowomuke
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