2 Corinthians: because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus, and will bring us with you into his presence.
I have a thing about St. Paul. When I attended my all-girls, uniform-wearing, Catholic high school, we had week-long mini-courses in the spring. Some of the courses traveled to different countries, and some stayed back and explored the city.
One year, I was lucky enough to go to Greece. We explored the island of Mykonos which was built like a maze to confuse the pirates. Though my friend and I never got lost, we ran into several from our group who did. When in doubt, turn left at the pelican.
We visited the Oracle at Delphi, the Acropolis, the Beehive Tomb, and Corinth. Corinth, during the time of Paul, was super immoral, so Paul wrote a lot of letters to them trying to get them to change their ways.
The first book of Corinthians is where we find one of the most well-quoted verses in the bible and heard mostly at weddings. It was read at my wedding, however, one or both of us didn't abide by Paul's beautiful, timeless definition of love.
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth." 1 Corinthians 13
I recall walking through Corinth. I could imagine him writing to the Church at Corinth, trying to change their ways. His presence was felt all those centuries later.
It could have been Father Frank again who said that this reading is typically read at weddings, though he had done some funerals where 1 Corinthians 13 was read.
Paul's message in today's verse offers hope to the hopeless. Today, may we live, may we live, knowing that God's presence is ever near and will raise us and guide us to Christ. Today, may we also love as described in 1 Corinthians 13.
Peace and love to you.
April 14
Matthew: so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:
Mark: The sower sows the word.
Luke: Then Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country.
John: but those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life.”
Acts: When they saw the man who had been cured standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition.
Romans: If it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void.
1 Corinthians: I am not writing this to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children.
2 Corinthians: because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus, and will bring us with you into his presence.
Galatians: though my condition put you to the test, you did not scorn or despise me, but welcomed me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus.
Ephesians: We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine, by people’s trickery, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming.
Philippians: In any case, it was kind of you to share my distress.
Colossians: Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas greet you.
1 Thessalonians: For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have died.
1 Timothy: Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you through prophecy with the laying on of hands by the council of elders.
2 Timothy: Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm; the Lord will pay him back for his deeds.
Hebrews: Since, then, we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession.
James: Yet you do not even know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.
1 Peter: If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the spirit of glory, which is the Spirit of God, is resting on you.
1 John: And we have seen and do testify that the Father has sent his Son as the Savior of the world.
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