Reading 1 Corinthians 13 today,
"If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing." 1 Cor 13:1-3 (NIV)
Many years ago, St Francis wrote these words.
Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.
What do we bring to our own circle? There is a lot going on these days, a loft of anger, a lot of fear, a lot of worry about our future. People have always sought to use these things for personal gain. Some just like to talk about them, feed these things or feed off of them.
It is always easier to destroy than create.
Not many of us can do anything on a mass scale to bring love, light and hope, but how about our small circle of friends? How about the people we are in contact with every day?
How about our posts in social media?
Are we spreading darkness? Are we bringing light?
Let's continue with the words of St Francis' prayer, take a moment and think on them, then offer it to God.
O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
