Strive for the Greatest
Strive eagerly for the greatest spiritual gifts. (1 Corinthians 12:31)
In this day and age, with all the blessings we receive daily without asking, one would think that we should go beyond being lukewarm and indifferent. St. Maximilian Kolbe said, “The most deadly poison of our times is indifference. Its victims are found not only among worldly people, but in our own ranks as well…” Yes!!! Poison is all over the places, from the innermost secrets of the heart to the public , from the church to home, and from home to your work places. The Apostle Paul asks us to strive for the greatest spiritual gifts. What gifts is he talking about? “Faith, hope, love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13: 13) Why love? Because love is capable of changing everything. “Above all, let your love for one another be intense, because love covers a multitude of sins.” (1 Peter 4: 8) True love fosters hope, unity, reconciliation, growth, sincerity, and service. Love casts out fear. (1 John 4:18) There is a saying, “There would be fewer divorces if men gave as much loving attention to their wives as they do to their cars, boats, and dogs.” Love is actively willing the good of the other. It expresses in selfless act of service, sharing apart of yourself with others. Love without service is like a car without fuel. “Love begins at home, and it is not how much we do, but how much love we put in the action that we do. […] I want you to find the poor here, right in your own home first. And begin love there.” (St. Mother Teresa, Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech) Let’s us put Love Into Actions (L.I.A.) by “doing small things with great love…. The smaller the thing, the greater must be our love.”
Do a smallest act for others today, put your heart, mind, and soul into it and watch how love grows.
How can we evangelize in such a spiritually indifferent culture?
Act of Love Prayer
O my God, I love you above all things, with my whole heart and soul, because you are all-good and worthy of all love. I love my neighbor as myself for the love of you. I forgive all who have injured me, and I ask pardon of all whom I have injured. (Catholic online prayer)
Hail Mary full of grace…
Peace in Christ,
Father Vincent-Vuong Nguyen