Love abides

“And now faith, hope and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love.” – 1 Cor 1:13

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Dear friends in Christ Jesus, in today’s reflection let us focus on one of the greatest attributes given to God and that is love. St. Paul is teaching the Corinthians to love one another because he has convinced himself that God is love. St. Paul encountered God's love when he had the encounter of Jesus on the way to Damascus. Since then he was carried away by the love of God. He changed life forever. Instead of persecuting the followers of Christ he helped to increase the followers of Christ.  St. Paul says that love is patient, kind, not envious, not boastful, not arrogant or rude, rejoices in the truth, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things and love never ends.

It is not only just the experience of Paul that God is love even the other disciples of Jesus. In the first letter of John 4:16 we read “God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.” It is also the personal experience of each one of us as believers in Jesus. God the Father sending his Son Jesus to save the world was a great act of love. If God doesn’t love us he would not have sent Jesus for us.

Day by day all of us called to grow in God's love. We could grow in God’s love by knowing him better through reading of the Scripture. Love is always expressed in word and in deed. Even the small things that we do in our daily life with great love for God and neighbor will make us better human beings. Let us have faith in God, let us hope in God and let us abide in the love of God. Amen.

Bible Reflection on 1 Cor 13: 1-13 by Fr. George Joseph SVD.

God is among you | Deus in vobis

Truly, God is among you - 1 Corinthians 14:25

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Short sentence, yet meaningful. God affirms His presence in every situation. Verse 21 describes the stubbornness of the hearts of those who do not believe in God. God's grace works in ways that are difficult for us to grasp and understand. Speaking in different tongues/different languages, will be a sign for those who lack faith. How can a language unknown to humans be spoken in chaos, yet easily understood by believers? God's work is truly powerful, as long as we believe that God is always among us in any difficult situation. My own experiment in some difficult moments when I can't do anything, that's the time to remember God, fully surrender and believe in His strengthening presence, suddenly feel a new strength just appear in my conscience. 

Faith in God provides a way out of all kinds of life's chaos.  Just as in relationships with those we love most in this world that require mutual trust, so too God expects trust from us His people. Believing even just a little that God is powerful, that God is always there for us His people whenever and wherever, then all difficult situations could be overcome. 

Sometimes we think too far and dig into God's secrets until finally we don't find the answer and may even apostatize. Let God's secrets only be understood and believed in, not to be explored until we reach conclusions beyond our reach and then even deny the faith that has grown. Let God's spirit work on us beyond our excessive curiosity about the secrets of Divine power. God bless us.

Reflection on 1 Corinthians 14: 20-40 by Sr Yanti Purnawati SFSC

(Listen to podcast here)

The Spirit | Spiritus

"So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church" - 1 Cor 14:12

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In the first half of chapter 14 of the First Letter to Corinthians, Paul affirms the Corinthians’ desire for spiritual gifts. Yet he reshapes their understanding of what those gifts are for. Spiritual gifts are never given simply for personal enrichment or private satisfaction; they are entrusted to believers for the sake of others. 

The first words of this chapter are "Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts" (1 Cor 14:1). Love comes first. Before speaking about gifts, abilities, or spiritual experiences, Paul names love as the path that must guide them all.  By calls for "pursuing love" and “striving to excel in building up the church”, Paul sets the standard by which all spiritual eagerness must be judged.

These verses challenge the tendency to view spiritual growth as something we accumulate for ourselves, solely for our own sake or satisfaction. Gifts such as speaking, teaching, discernment, or leadership are not spiritual possessions to be just cumulated or enjoyed by ourselves. Rather, they are responsibilities—means by which God’s grace reaches the wider community. With them, we are to serve and strenghten others.

Paul thus calls to a spirituality shaped by love and service. What is important is not how gifted we appear, but how much our gifts help others grow in faith, find encouragement, and experience God’s presence. 

In this way, this passage invites us to reflect on our own spiritual desires. Are we pursuing growth primarily for ourselves, or are we seeking to become more capable of loving others? Paul reminds us that authentic faith and love are not inward- but outward-facing. 

We are to seek growth not just for ourselves, but so that our lives may become instruments through which God strengthens others. To pursue love is to seek gifts that help others flourish and to allow God’s grace to flow through us. 

Reflection on 1 Corinthians 14:1-19 by Agata Wierzbowska

(Listen to podcast here)

Body of Christ | Corpus Christi

“Now you are the body of Christ, and individually members of it.” - 1 Corinthians 12:27

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The apostle Paul’s words remind us today of a very powerful truth: to belong to Christ is not just to believe in Him, but to be united with Him. This truth becomes even more important when we remember that Christ is risen and that those who belong to Him are raised with Him. Scripture tells us, “If you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above” (Colossians 3:1). Because we are members of His body, Christ’s resurrection is not distant from us, it defines who we are, how we live our lives and the hope we have for our future.

A body shares one life. Christ is the head, and we are the members. The life that flows through us is the resurrection life of Jesus: a life that has conquered sin, death, and despair. The work of redemption is finished and the sacrifice of Christ is sufficient. This means that we should not live in fear or division, but in hope and unity. 

Being raised with Christ also calls us to live differently. We are no longer living by our old ways. We are called to show the life of the risen Christ in how we speak, serve, forgive, and care for one another. When the world looks at us, it should see evidence that Jesus is alive.

Let us remember who we are: the body of Christ, alive in Him and raised with Him. Let us put our faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as our all-sufficient Saviour.

Reflection on 1 Corinthians 12: 21 - 31 by Hanne

(Listen to podcast here)

In uno Spiritu | In one Spirit

In one Spirit we were all baptized into one body (1 Cor 12:13).

A month ago we lost a beloved member of our community. Her name was Desi, and we all miss her deeply. As one body, we remain united with Desi. Now she lives in the heavenly Kingdom among the saints in glory. We continue to pray for her, and she prays for us. This is the gift of the communion of saints to which we belong.

We believe that our beloved sister Desi is with Christ, for Christ lived in her body when she walked among us on earth. The same was true of the Holy Spirit dwelling within her. For "in one Spirit we were all baptized" as Christians. It does not matter that we have different languages and colors of skin. What matters is that we have all been made to drink of one Holy Spirit. We have various gifts and ministries in our community: one of us edits our blog, another helps organize the schedule, another prepares our podcasts, and some write reflections.

We are all needed to preach the Good News in the world. You cannot say that you are not needed in the community of the Church. You can always engage more fully to share the Gospel with your brothers and sisters. Your reflection encourages others to grow in Christian faith and understanding of the Holy Scriptures. Your personal story helps many others live their lives. Through your eyes, we can see much more. Through your ears, we can hear much more.

Our heavenly Father arranged our Bible Sharing Group and sent the Holy Spirit to gather us together. I could not do this work alone as a single member. Therefore, I am thankful for every person in our group. I especially pray for our sister Desi, who was present at the beginning of our spiritual community where "there are many parts, yet one body" (v. 20). Amen.

Reflection on 1 Corinthians 12:12-20 by Józef Trzebuniak SVD.

(Listen to podcast here)

Gratiae | Gifts

Now there are varieties of gifts but the same Spirit, and there are varieties of services but the same Lord, and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. - 1 Corinthians 12: 4-6

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Reflecting on 1 Corinthians 12:1-11, focus verses 4-6 & 11 and my faith journey. As a young convert, I used to be upset that I couldn't hear God's voice and didn't receive the Gift of Tongues. With a wrong theology that this Gift was the one and only greatest gift that was given to believers to pray over one another. However, as I progressed in my faith journey, I slowly began to comprehend that the Gift of Tongues was only one of many Gifts that the Holy Spirit imparts unto believers. The ultimate aim of these gifts were to be used in the service of others and God was the One who solely determined what and when each person shall receive his/her Gift(s) of the Holy Spirit. 

Through the process of waiting upon Him, I've also learned that the greatest gift is the Gift of Love, my own love for God and being able to share His love with others around me. Each of the Holy Spirit's Gift was a means to show God's love to His Body, whether it's in the healing, prophetic, teaching or hospitality ministries. In 1 Corinthians 13:13 we read: "So faith, hope, love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love."  Also as St Paul wrote in Romans 5:8 - But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 

I'll close my short sharing with this beautiful worship song about God's Love:  "How He Loves Us" 

How He Loves Us – Kim Walker-Smith 

Verse 1 

He is jealous for me 

Loves like a hurricane 

I am a tree bending beneath 

The weight of His wind and mercy 

When all of a sudden 

I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory

And I realize just how beautiful You are

And how great Your affections are for me 

Chorus 

And oh how He loves us 

Oh, oh how He loves us 

How He loves us 

Pre-Chorus 

And He is jealous for me 

Loves like a hurricane 

I am a tree bending beneath 

The weight of His wind and mercy 

When all of a sudden I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory 

And I realize just how beautiful You are 

And how great Your affections are for me 

Chorus 

And oh how He loves us 

Oh, oh how He loves us 

How He loves us 

Post-Chorus 

Yeah, He loves us 

Oh, how He loves us 

Oh, how He loves us 

Oh, how He love 

Bridge 

And we are His portion 

And He is our prize 

Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes 

If His grace is an ocean, we're all sinking 

When heaven meets earth like an unforeseen kiss 

And my heart turns violently inside of my chest 

I don't have time to maintain these regrets 

When I think about the way that He loves us 

(Repeat Chorus x3)

Link: Youtube: https://youtu.be/XjgSMNYy2RI?si=Qwb6KInOLqIDdRgi
Title: How He Loves Us

Singer: Kim Walker 

Writers: John Mark McMillan/David Crowder 

Copyright: 2005 Integrity's Hosanna!

Reflection on 1 Corinthians 12:1-11 by Chris Tan