Today we continue our “AGAPE Homily Series”! We started with an Introduction to the First Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians, then we spoke about gifts and charisms and last week we spoke about how we are one body with the same spirit and heart. Today, we delve into the core of our homily series, reflecting on 1 Corinthians 12:31-13:13. Here we cover all of chapter 13, known as the “Hymn of Charity”, or the “Hymn of Agape”.
St. Paul emphasizes that we could have many gifts, speak in tongues, prophecy, have faith that moves mountains, lay down our lives, yet if we don’t have love (charity, agape), we are nothing and gain nothing. These are strong words since in Scripture prophecy was a special gift from God, faith in Jesus was revolutionary and when people were dying for their faith. St. Paul places the focus on the essential, without which nothing else makes sense. He taps into the core, from which everything else is relative.
What is love, charity, agape? If it’s so important, what is it? We can’t help but look at the whole of Scripture to understand the parts. St. John writes, “In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us” (1 John 4:10). We read in today’s first reading, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you” (Jeremiah 1:5). Charity ultimately is God’s love for us, for “God is love” (1 John 4:8). As we read in last week’s and today’s Gospel, Jesus came to Galilee announcing that he was sent to heal, set free, give sight, fill hearts, and ultimately that he was the Messiah, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” (Luke 4:21) “God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son” (John 3:16). Love, charity, agape, is a person, it’s Jesus! Charity isn’t an idea, it’s a reality, it’s a person who came to be with us, gave his life for us, rose from the dead for us, conquered all evil, sin and darkness, so that he can journey with us, be our strength, live in us, and be our light. God is alive and allows us, in the midst of our suffering and darkness to already begin sharing in his love and light in this life and continue in its fullness for all of Eternity.
Have a great week and if you need anything, never hesitate to ask me.
God bless you and your loved ones, Fr. Kramer Cameron, LC
If "Charity isn’t an idea, it’s a reality, it’s a person who came to be with us, gave his life for us, rose from the dead for us, conquered all evil, sin and darkness, so that he can journey with us, be our strength, live in us, and be our light. " is true, how can there still be so much evil and darkness in the world? I struggle with this. I accept the concept of free will and consequences, but I don't see where evil has ever been conquered.