The Greatest Gift
1 COR 12:31-13:13

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 so 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, love 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 things,
hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails.
If there are prophecies, they will be brought to nothing;
if tongues, they will cease;
if knowledge, it will be brought to nothing.
For we know partially and we prophesy partially,
but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.
When I was a child, I used to talk as a child,
think as a child, reason as a child;
when I became a man, I put aside childish things.
At present we see indistinctly, as in a mirror,
but then face to face.
At present I know partially;
then I shall know fully, as I am fully known.
So faith, hope, love remain, these three;
but the greatest of these is love.

What is love?
How do you experience this greatest gift?

1Cor 12:12-14,27-31; Psalm 100:1-5; Luke 7:11-17

from sorrow
and death
we arise
at His command
one body
in Christ
each a gift
received
to give
again
healing
assisting
teaching
interpreting
feeding a world
in desperate need
with kindness
compassion
and love
we sing
God’s praises
everyday
with a joyful song

What is your gift?
How do you share your gift?

1Cor 11:17-26,33; Psalm 40:7-17; Luke 7: 1-19

one bread
one cup
given to all
not as sacrifice
but as love
beyond
our worthiness
authority
or ability
resting
in God’s generosity
a life
given
as gift
received
as love
we give
as love
from God’s
overflowing cup

What is Christ’s gift to you?
How do you share this gift?

Isaiah 50:4-9; Ps 116: 1-9; James 2:14-18; Mark 8:27-35

taking up
our cross
we follow
we leave
a certain life
behind us
as we are
saved into
a gospel life
of faith
where each work
of life
is renewed
with Truth
and Love
we walk
in the land of
the living
freed
from death
freed
from tears
freed
from stumbling
we face
hardship
and suffering
knowing
that God is our help
we reach towards
each other
as God’s mercy
reaches
to us

Do you take up your cross and follow?
Do you experience God with you?

Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross
Numbers 21:4-9; Psalm 78:1-38; Phil 2:6-11;John 3:13-17

this God
of love
coming down
with words
of life
for us
pouring himself
into our humanity
that our hearts
and minds
might be opened
his cross
a door
to a risen life
that we follow
though a mystery
we understand
through the language
of suffering
through the language
of compassion
through the language
of love

What do you find in the cross?
Do you find love there?

Luke 6:39-42

leaving
ignorance
and blind guides
we follow
the one
who sees
and knows
the love
of God
not seeing
our faults
in another
but in ourselves
we seek
counsel
in the place
of mercy
and are shown
the path
to life
and joy

Have you been shown the path of life?
Who is your teacher?

1Cor 8:1-7, 11-13; Psalm 139:1-3,13-14, 23-24; Luke 6:27-38

being known
in our inmost being
by God
we are shown
a love
that surpasses
our understanding
and knowledge
putting on
heartfelt compassion, 
kindness,
humility, 
gentleness, 
and patience,
bearing with one another 
and forgiving one another–
a love
that extends
even to our enemies
that gives
beyond our measures
that lives
beyond our judgement
as it embraces
all of life

We stand in awe of this love.

1Cor7:25-31; Psalm 45:11-17; Luke 6:20-26

poor
hungry
weeping
excluded
we turn
our ear
to another
who offers
something
beyond
our means
reaching
into our poverty
we find
blessing in the Holy Spirit
and live
in the paradox
of Christ

Do you find the blessing in your poverty through the Holy Spirit?
What is your poverty?

1Cor 6:1-11; Psalm 149:1-9; Luke 6:12-19

praying
through the night
we are strengthened
by God’s word
coming into the day
with new knowledge
and understanding
we join
the community
of healers
who bring
suffering
to God’s love
and compassion
leaving judgement
and offering
only mercy
we sing for joy
of God’s saving power

What comes to you as you pray through the night?
Do you join the healing community of Christ?

Luke 6:6-11

we stretch
out our hand
and are healed
by the one
in whom
all the
treasures
of wisdom
and knowledge
are hidden
who would
save life
rather
than destroy it
letting go 
of envy
and pettiness
we are
brought
together
in love
chosen
to make
manifest
the light
of the Christ
in us
laboring
and struggling
with His power
working
within

Do you experience the power of Christ in you