Love, the Greatest of All Gifts (Wednesday, Week 23, Year 2)

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The first reading is to be understood within the context of what was going on in the Corinthian Christian community. In 1 cor. 12:12-14.27-31a, St Paul brought to light the fact in every Christian community, in a every Body of Christ, there is always a diversity of ministries, gifts and responsibilities. And such was the case in the Corinthian Christian community. In today’s first reading (cf. 1 Cor. 12:31-13:13), it seems St Paul discovered that the Corinthian Christians were divided on account of gifts or responsibilities that each person was exercising. Those who were teachers looked down on those who were prophets; those who were administrators looked down on those who were helpers; those who were workers of miracles were looking down on those who were workers of miracles; and so on. Such attitude can also be found in today’s Christian communities and families. 

A good friend of mine once told me about his experience in the secondary school (or high school). Those who were forming them (their teachers and formators) were emphasizing gifts and development of potentials. And the students who were good at the football pitch were praised; those who came out with excellent results were praised; those who could talk and debate well during debates were praised. But then, those who were faithfully sweeping the paths were not recognized at all; those who were full of humor were not well recognized and encouraged; those who were good artists (who can draw) suffered the same fate. And this discrimination brought about unhealthy competition among the students: everybody now wanted to get first position in class; everybody wanted to play football better than everybody; everybody wanted to do those things that the teachers praise; and so on. Now, we must understand that each of us is differently gifted. It is good to pass your exams, to be successful in your chosen career but it is also good to know your talents and develop them.

But whether your talents are recognized or not, no matter how big or small they may be, they are meant for service, not service to self but to the community and society. And for you to effectively use your gift for service, you must strive to have love. And that is why St Paul regards it as the highest gift. Love is not only a gift; it is a channel through which other gifts are beneficially expressed. Love is like a prism (a transparent solid object having many sides). When a ray of white light goes through a prism, it breaks off into beautiful beams of light. When our endowments or talents go through the prism of love, they break off into beautiful gifts that will be beneficial to everyone. Where there is love, there will be no selfishness, hatred, wickedness, jealousy and the rest. Everybody will be after the good of another. In the classroom setting, when there is love, those who are super intelligent will seek to help those who are struggling academically; those who can play football well at the pitch will be humble to teach those who want to learn; and so on. No one will be jealous of the other’s talents or gifts.

What we have in the gospel reading (cf. Luke 7:31-35) is what can happen when there is no love in a community or family. John the Baptist came and expressed his great gift of preaching and prophecy and rarely ate and drank; and the people said that he had a demon. Jesus came and expressed his great gifts of healing, teaching and preaching; and was eating and drinking; and the people said that he was a glutton (gourmand). Love is not jealous; it does not rejoice at wrong but rejoices in the right. This is the kind of attitude we need for growth, development and success in our service to our communities and families. If there is no love, everything crumbles. Love is the foundation of every other thing. Someone said that with love as the foundation, everything is possible.






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