~The Greatest of These~
M.A.P.S #2 Momily "The Greatest of These"
Print from 'Spirit Daily' offered by Cece

January 31, 2010 Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

One Morning…

We had the opportunity to pray the Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary together

before beginning our day of home schooling.

As we began the Apostles Creed and the first "Our Father" prayer,

I asked Christian to pray the first three "Ave’s" for the three T.V.’s in our home.

My five-year old Marianna, who can count,

informed me that we don’t have three T.V.’s in our home.

I smiled at her and told them that I am praying

that we have three T.V.s in our home at all times.
This was a petition they were quite happy to offer!

This teachable moment added a new understanding to them regarding our

Generous Bestower of the three Theological Virtues (T.V.’s)

infused into the soul at Baptism.

Faith, Hope and Charity, grant me Lord, to best serve Thee!

Yet, as we grow in our faith, we learn from Saint Paul

‘the greatest of these is love’.

(1 Cor 13:13)

With further study, Father Hardon goes as far to explain:

‘a person who has lost the supernatural virtue of charity ,

has lost the state of grace,

although he may still possess the virtues of hope and faith’.

He defines charity as the supernatural virtue

by which a person loves God above all things for his own sake,

and loves others for God’s sake…

Charity is not acquired by mere human effort.

(Modern Catholic Dictionary by Father John Hardon, p.95)

If it is true that ‘Charity begins in the home’,

where are we to love, when 'charity ends in the home'

We set our sights on the Sacrament of Reconciliation,

most often,

when there seems to be habitual ill-will between siblings.

We discover the answers to these conflicts with spiritual ease,

most especially,

after frequenting the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

Sins against charity are abstract, yet well examined when considering

The words of Saint Paul in 1 Corinthians 12.

These words serve me

as I examine my own responses to my family

~at days end.~

This Divine Reading was offered at our wedding Mass, nearly 25 years ago.

My own parents read this again

at our first-born son’s wedding Mass on December 19^th 2009.

I cherish Saint Paul’s words,

am challenged by them,

strive toward them,

and am taught by them exactly what it means to

~love.~

May all mothers be granted the grace to desire the truest expressions of unfailing love.

In Their Hearts,
Sharon

A reading from the first Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians
12:31-13:8
Brothers and Sisters:Strive eagerly for the greatest spiritual gifts.
But I shall show you a still more excellent way. If I speak in human and angelic tongues, but do not have love,I am a resounding gong or a clashing cymbal. And If I have the gift of prophecy and comprehend all mysteries and all knowledge;if I have all faith as to move mountains,
but do not have love, I am nothing.If I give away everything I own,
and if I hand my body over so that I may boast but do not have love,I gain nothing.
Love is patient, love is kind.
It is not jealous, is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude,

it does not seek its own interests,
it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury,it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth.It bears all things, believes all tings, hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never fails.