LOVE
IS THE ULTIMATE Sunday
February 14, 2016
Text:
1 Corinthians 13:1 – 3
Memory verse: v 2
Today is St. Valentine’s Day; a day
popularly known as lover’s day. According to Wikipedia, there are 2 known
prominent St. Valentine – Valentine of Rome and of Terni whose feasts were on
February 14. However, at the revision of Roman Catholic Calendar of saints, St.
Valentine was removed under Pope Paul VI and then there was no association of
these saints to romantic love. But “Appropriate lore has been embroidered in
modern times to portray Valentine as a priest who refused an unattested law
attributed to Roman Emperor Claudius II, allegedly
ordering that young men remain single. The Emperor supposedly did this to grow
his army, believing that married men did not make for good soldiers. The priest
Valentine, however, secretly performed marriage ceremonies for young men. When
Claudius found out about this, he had Valentine arrested and thrown in jail and
later executed” so says Wikipedia. If this lore is real, then Valentine used
his gift in excellent way in helping people achieve their life’s dream.
The excellent way Paul referred to in
the close of the former chapter, is not just what is meant by charity (almsgiving),
but love in its fullest meaning; real, true and sincere love for God and man.
Love in this aspect is not romantic love as people practice today. It involves
commitment, dedication, trustworthiness, obedience, etc. As love to God and to
men is the best gift which God bestows, all should most earnestly desire and
cherish it in their lives and in others. Do you have that gift of love in you?
How much do you love your neighbours? How do you use your gift of beauty,
knowledge, money, strength, etc? See these passages; Lk. 10:30–37 and 1 Jn.
4:20
Food
for Thought:
Are you using your gifts in an excellent way?
Prayer: Lord, let love be the guiding principle of all my words and deeds.
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