News - January 2022 RSS Feed

Love is patient and kind. St. Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians 13:8 This week we have the pleasure of reading and listening to St. Paul’s great ode to love. I’ve often been puzzled by the meaning of love. The Greeks, I’m told, had five words for it. In my own reflections, I’ve seen it present in generosity, presence, persistence and many other qualities.

You are Christ’s body, and individually parts of it.          St. Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians 12:12 I found it hard to pick out a summary section in today’s reading from St. Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians about the Body of Christ. He makes three important points in his reflection: (1) each one of us is a part of the Body of Christ, (2) no part deserves more prestige than another, (3) the body doesn’t work as well if one part of the body suffers.

Each individual gets something for the benefit of all. This is good news, indeed! If you haven’t discovered yours yet, dive into a ministry. Ministry will bring it out for you.

Discerning God’s will for us is the central task of discipleship and how we each can do God’s work in the world. It means taking time for prayer and study and action.

Today we celebrate God taking human form, joining us in the limits of human existence and suffering with us from the sins of humanity. To paraphrase the Canticle of Zechariah in Luke 2: The tender mercy of our God has brought a daybreak from on high to shine on those who sit in darkness and death’s shadow, and guide our feet into the path of peace.