Date: Sunday, January 31, 2016
I asked the 1st Grade Class what they were talking about. Our catechist replied: “Prayer.” I joined in by saying: “Prayer is our conversation with God.” I moved on to say “hello” to the other classes without asking the children: “What is prayer for you?” “How do you pray at home?” I missed the simple wisdom of a child regarding an important part of our faith.
Today, in our 2nd reading, we have St. Paul’s poetic words on love to the Corinthians. St. Paul establishes the believing community at Corinth but their relationship, at times, is contentious. Paul, as pastor, tries to correct misunderstandings about the Gospel. There may be as many as four Pauline letters to the Corinthians and one is referred to as a letter of tears. St. Paul writes that of all the special charismatic gifts the community is endowed with the greatest is love. Paul is able to write beautifully about love because he experiences God’s love and mercy in Jesus Christ. Paul knows love is hard to do. He rejects sentimentality. He writes what love “is.” Love is patient, kind, rejoices in the truth, bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things. But he also says what love “is not.” Love is not jealous, is not pompous, is not inflated, is not rude, does not seek its own interests, is not quick-tempered, does not brood over injury, and does not rejoice over wrongdoing. In the end “faith, hope and love remain but the greatest of these is love.”
Children can tell us something simple and profound about the love that St. Paul is writing about especially when they see and experience love themselves.
Rebecca 8 yrs: “When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn’t bend over and paint her toenails anymore…so my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That’s love.”
Billy 4 yrs: “When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You know that your name is safe in their mouth.”
Danny 8 yrs: “Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK.”
Bobby 7 yrs: “Love is what’s in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and just listen.”
Nikka 6 yrs: “If you want to learn to love better you should start with a friend who you hate.”
Tommy 6yrs: “Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well.”
Elaine 5 yrs: “Love is when mommy gives daddy the best piece of chicken.”
Mark 6 yrs: “Love is when mommy sees daddy on the toilet seat and she doesn’t think it is gross.”
Jessica 8 yrs: “You really shouldn’t say ‘I love you’ unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget.”