Today this Sunday as we are well into this period of the Liturgical Calendar between the Christmas Season and Lent, we must take care to avoid becoming too comfortable with ourselves and our daily lives.  Especially here in our part of the world where the weather is now beautiful and there are countless activities going on each day that compete for our time.  We must take care to remember the commitments we make to God, to our families and to ourselves.  Commitments of making this year our best year yet.  Some of these are about becoming healthier, physically and spiritually.  Some are to be a better Father, Mother or person in general.  Hopefully, all of us in some way have committed to increased prayer and study as well as working to grow more closely to God.  This is a time when we can evaluate how we have been doing this past several weeks toward achieving these goals.  It is also a time to look at how we may further discern God’s will in our efforts.

  This week in our readings, we hear from Saint Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians in Chapter 12 & 13.  Paul encourages us to “Strive eagerly for the greatest spiritual gifts” (1 COR 12:31) but lets us know that there is a greater way to achieve eternal life.  In the following verses in (1 COR 13:1-3) he lets us know that if we have any of these “spiritual gifts” “but do not have love,” we “gain nothing”.  Paul continues to explain, “Love never fails”, (1 COR 13:8).  What is love?  Where does love come from?  This is something we all too often simplify as if it is something that we can will ourselves to do.  God is Love!  He is the sole source of our love and through Him, we too have the capacity to love.  There is nothing more important than our striving to live by the greatest commandment to Love.  First and foremost, “you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength”. (MK 12:30)

  Brothers and sisters, let us work to ensure that our efforts, in each moment of each day, begin with an overwhelming desire to please God and to do His will.  If we truly keep God first in our lives, we too will “never fail”!