May 18
Without love my confession of Christ will avail me nothing
f I speak in
the tongues of men and of angels, says the apostle, but have not love,
I am nothing but a booming gong or a clashing cymbal. If I have the gift
of prophecy, if I have all knowledge and understand all mysteries, if I
have faith strong enough to move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
In other words, even with all these gifts I am nothing without Christ.
Does that mean that prophecy has no value and that knowledge of mysteries
is worthless? No, they are not worthless but I am, if I possess them but
have not love. But can the lack of one good thing rob so many others of
their value? Yes, without love my confession of the name of Christ even
by shedding my blood or offering my body to be burnt will avail me nothing,
for I may do this out of a desire for glory. That such things can be endured
for the sake of empty show without any real love for God the apostle also
declares. Listen to him: If I give away all I have to the poor, if I
hand over my body to be burnt, but have not love, it will avail me nothing.
So this is what the wedding garment is. Examine yourselves to see whether
you possess it. If you do, your place at the Lord's table is secure.
From John E. Rotelle, O.S.A., Tradition Day by Day: Readings from
Church Writers. Augustinian Press. Villanova, PA, 1994.
HTML text prepared by David P. Steelman
