DAY 246

THE WEDDING READING –

THAT IS NOT ABOUT WEDDINGS!

Psalm 137, 138 & 139 and 1 Corinthians 13

The wedding reading – 1 Corinthians 13 – most of us who have been to a few weddings have heard this read at least once. It is a good reading for a wedding because it describes the character of love; verses 4-7 hones in on what this love looks like. I have commented before that the Greek language has four words for love. This is not the “I love pizza” word. The Greek word, if were to “transliterate it” would look like agape. It is the self-giving love Jesus so often speaks of and practices.

And here we read in the context of how of church, the people in fellowship under the banner of Jesus Christ, are to treat one another. Two areas get my attention.

First this is Paul. For any of us who have ever thought him a tough minded, no nonsense, maybe even heartless fellow, then we need to think again. He writes these words to a church he cares about. It is a church that a few pages earlier he has chided and admonished, but now he tells them about love. His point is that love is more important than all spiritual giftedness, but beyond the theology here, here is Paul’s heart for the Christian life…love each other. Who else said that? Jesus. They will know you are my disciples by how you love one another.

The second area is reflecting on when the churches I have been a part of have behaved this way. We don’t behave this way 100% of the time – we cannot for we are not perfect. But there have been times when I have been in “the Body” and it has seemed like “love”—the kind we read of here—has been the dominant force. It is of course amazing to be in those moments. It is supernatural. It is the love of Jesus pouring out of us and pouring on us. We cannot do it on our own; nor should we want to. Have you ever had someone be patient and kind with you? Have you ever had someone not boast or been rude, but rather believe and hope and endure with you? In those moments the Love of God in Christ is flooding your world…and this love never ends. May we be people who witness this love in our churches.