The Pastor's Points:

Love Lives Here
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The Thirteenth Chapter of Paul’s First letter to the Corinthians maybe very familiar to us. Often called “the love chapter”, Paul teaches on love has the distinction of being one of the most popular readings for a wedding. It was for Michelle and mine, and why not? It’s perfectly understandable that couples would want to start their journey together with Paul’s assuring words that “love never fails.”

This lesson on love is testimony to Paul’s devotion to the church community in Corinth. The apostle knew that community really had to make some changes if they were ever going to become a model of excellence for others.

It seems the Corinthian church was always on the point of breaking up; members just could not get along, even at the Eucharist. Paul had to write at least five letters to them, and he visited them at least three times personally. Little wonder Paul has to write to this community about the more excellent way of love.

Let’s for a moment consider Paul’s beautiful words in the context that he wrote them, to a community of Christians, and imagine that he was writing directly to us here. Do we love enough?

Paul mentions many gifts that are present by people of the Corinthian church…Prophesy, knowledge of mysteries, great faith, and charity.

The same can be said for the collective spiritual gifts present here within our church family. I thank God for each of you who, with your own gifts, help to make our small church thrive.

But Paul reminds us, in no uncertain terms, that we must first, last and always have love in our hearts and in our actions. If not, our good works are nothing. Let us continue to grow, both in our own spiritual journey, and as a church family with love.

Keep in mind here that the love Paul is referring to is not a adolescent sense of love, no he says “when I became a man, I put away childish things”. This love is the kind of love that is a gift from God. We would not be able to love one another as Christ loved us if he hadn’t made it possible, if he hadn’t put that love in our hearts

I love this church, not just the building and its pretty furnishings, It’s the people that make the church, and therefore what I am saying is I love each of you. I pray that you too love each other so much, in such a mature, genuine, God-like way that anyone who walks through doors of Holy Cross will without a doubt know that love lives here.

Email Fr. McIntosh:
FrMcIntosh@HolyCrossEpiscopal.com