September 18, 2004.

Wednesday of the 24th week in ordinary time.

A reading from the first letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians.

Brothers and sisters, strive eagerly for the greatest spiritual gifts,

but I shall show you a still more excellent way.

If I speak in human and angelic tongues, but do not have love, I am a resounding gong or a clashing symbol.

And if I have the gift of prophecy and comprehend all mysteries and all knowledge, if I have all faith so

as to move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give away everything I own,

and if I hand my body over so that I may boast but do not have love. I gain nothing. Love is patient.

Love is kind. It is not jealous. Love is not pompous. It is not inflated. It is not rude.

It does not seek its own interests. It is not quick-tempered.

It does not brood over injury.

It does not rejoice over wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.

It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails.

If there are prophecies, they will be brought to nothing.

If tongues, they will cease.

If knowledge, it will be brought to nothing.

For we know partially and we prophesy partially.

But when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.

When I was a child, I used to talk as a child, think as a child, reason as a child.

When I became a man, I put aside childish things.

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