January 30 - One Bread, One Body
January 30, Fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time
Cycle C Readings:
1) Jeremiah 1:4-5, 17-19
Psalm 71:1-6, 15, 17
2) 1 Corinthians 12:31 — 13:13
Luke 4:21-30
Blind, unrequited love
“There is no limit to love's forbearance, to its trust, its hope, its power to endure.” — 1 Corinthians 13:7
It’s common for Scripture to talk about having faith without seeing. We talk about “blind faith” and the leap of faith. “Faith is confident assurance concerning what we hope for, and conviction about things we do not see” (Heb 11:1). “We walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Cor 5:7). The centurion had so much faith in Jesus’ word of command that he didn’t need to see Jesus give the order to heal his servant (Lk 7:8, 10).
Scripture also talks about having hope without seeing. “Hope is not hope if its object is seen; how is it possible for one to hope for what he sees? And hoping for what we cannot see means awaiting it with patient endurance” (Rm 8:24-25). Abraham hoped “against hope” (Rm 4:18), though he could not see how God would give him a great inheritance (Heb 11:8ff).
We also have examples in Scripture of love without seeing or “blind love”: the “patient” (1 Cor 13:4) love of a parent for a wayward child (Lk 15:13, 20), the enduring, faithful love of Mary Magdalene for the dead and buried Jesus (Jn 20:15), and God’s love for us while we were still sinners (Rm 5:8).
Are you called to pour out your heart in unseeing, unrequited love? Ask Jesus to pour out His love in your heart (Rm 5:5). Blind love is greater than blind faith and blind hope (1 Cor 13:13). There is no limit to the power of your unrequited love to endure (1 Cor 13:7).
Prayer: Father, You are Love (1 Jn 4:8). May I continue to love for no other reason than to imitate You.
Promise: “Love never fails.” —1 Cor 13:8
Praise: Praise Jesus, Who not only conquered death and the tomb, but ascended and sent the Spirit to teach and defend us.
Rescript: In accord with the Code of Canon Law, I hereby grant the Imprimatur ("Permission to Publish") for One Bread, One Body covering the period from December 1, 2021 through January 31, 2022.
†Most Reverend Steve J. Angi, Chancellor, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio May 5, 2021.
The Nihil Obstat ("Permission to Publish") is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted the Nihil Obstat agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.