Wednesday of the 24th week in Ordinary Time Year A, 16th September, 2020. The memorial of St. Cornelius & St. Cyprian

 Readings: 1Cor.12:31-13:13, Ps.33, Luke 7:31-35

Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

LOVE IS THE FOUNDATION OF ALL VIRTUES

Love is that nature of God which we share, a gift from God to humanity. Love is like the stream water, so innocent and pure. True love is not hidden, it radiates from the innermost being of a person who experience it. Little wonder St Paul in our first reading tells us that  there are three things that last: faith, hope and love; and the greatest of these is love. For love is always patient and kind; it is never jealous; love is never boastful or conceited; it is never rude or selfish; it does not take offence, and is not resentful. Love takes no pleasure in other people’s sins but delights in the truth; it is always ready to excuse, to trust, to hope, and to endure whatever comes. 

So love is the greatest of all the gifts of God. Since all the virtues, from the lowest to the highest are worthless unless motivated by love. So love however, is the greatest and foundation of all the virtues. Other virtues such as faith will cease with the vision of God, hope will disappear into the possession of what we hoped for. But love is permanent and eternal because, God is love and we are his seed of love in this world. Thus our primary purpose in life is to love, and not just any kind of love, but sacrificial love that is rooted in selflessness that is devoid of greed, selfishness and haughty.

This kind of love is what is lacking among the people of our generation as we have it in our Gospel passage today when we heard Jesus talking about the people who out of jealousy had failed to embrace his teaching and that of John the Baptist. For the people looked down on him and were very judgmental against him and John the Baptist because of their unique personality. 

And this ugly attitude were caused by lack of love, inability to appreciate God’s love and all that He has done for the sake of all humanity. But this is not the same with Pope Cornelius and Cyprian whose memorial we celebrate today. For they were holy servants of God who dedicated their lives to the service of God and for the love of God and their neighbour. And for this they died as martyrs under great persecution, of which they stood firm in their faith and hope which is rooted in their love of God and neighbours.

Dear friends, how much of this love dwells in us knowing that our true happiness is found in love? The fact remains that we can never be happy if we lack love in us. We can never be satisfied if we lack love. We can never receive love if we have never given it and when we have it we can never give enough of it. So, no matter what kind of gifts we have whether spiritual or material, love is the only way to make them a source of happiness which bring us satisfaction that comes only from the heart that truly loves.

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, enkindle in us once again the fire of your love, so that through the intercessions of St. Cornelius and Cyprian we may become your great servants dedicating our lives and service to loving you and our neighbours, through Christ our Lord. Amen.  Do have a lovely day.