Wednesday 16 September

STS CORNELIUS, P.M., & CYPRIAN, B.M. (M)

1 Corinthians 12:31-13:13; Psalm 33;
Luke 7:31-35

Love in action

Sts Cornelius(d. 253) and Cyprian (200-258) celebrate their feast days together. They lived when Roman rulers persecuted Christians and they were martyred for their faith. This beautiful reading in 1 Corinthians is often used at weddings, including my own. Love is defined, not as a feeling, but by spiritual qualities sustained by grace: patience, kindness, joy in the other, politeness, selflessness, joy in the truth, tolerance, trust, hopefulness, and an ability to endure. I like this reading because it points out very clearly how we are to love as Jesus wants us to.