VII Sunday C – Ubi Caritas, Deus Ibi
Readings: 1 Sam 26:2,7-9,12-13,22-23; 1 Cor 15:45-49; Lk 6:27-38
Charity, supreme value (1 Cor 13:13), which you will never end (1 Cor 13:8), superior to speaking in tongues, prophecy, science and the fullness of faith (1 Cor 13:1-3). Charity with which your Spirit of Love fills us, transforming us (Second Reading: 1 Cor 15:45-49).
Charity, love of neighbor as ourselves (Lk 10:25-28), new commandment (1 Jn 2:8) for measure and source (Jn 14:34), walk in the light (1 Jn 2:10), purest jubilation (Phm 7), perfect knowledge of God (1 Jn 4:7-8), condition of our abiding in him and his indwelling in us (1 Jn 4:12. 16); Charity, that you go beyond the law and surpass all logic, foolishness to the world (Mt 5:20-21,27,31,33,38. 43); Charity, that you are pure gift, total oblation; Charity, that you seek only the other, that you think only of the other, that you want only the good of the other (1 Cor 10:24; 1 Cor 13:4); Charity, that you expect no reciprocation, that you love your enemies (Gospel: Lk 6:27; First Reading: 1 Sam 26:2-23), and indeed excuses them (Lk 23:34), that you do good to those who hate you, that you bless those who curse you, that you pray for those who mistreat you, that you turn the other cheek to those who beat you, that you even give your tunic to those who take away your cloak, that you lend to those who will not return it (Lk 6:27-35); Charity, who art gentle (Titus 3:2), patient, benign, never jealous, who boasteth not, is not wroth; Charity, that all things believe, all things hope, all things endure (1 Cor 13:4-7); Charity, that you are closeness to the suffering (Lk 10:29-37), sharing in the sorrow of the world (2 Cor 1:7), solicitude for the needs of others (Rom 12:9-21), sharing of burdens (Gal 6:2; Eph 4:2) and the weakness of the brethren (2 Cor 11:29), consolation of the afflicted (2 Cor 1:4), honor toward all (1 Pet 2:17), sharing in goods (Jas 22:8), almsgiving (Lk 11:41), charity (Heb 13:16); Charity, who are food for the hungry, drink for the thirsty, a home for the stranger, clothing for the naked, care for the sick, comfort for the imprisoned (Mt 25:31-46); Charity, that you are service, washing one another’s feet (Jn 13:14), gift of life to others (Jn 15:13); Charity, that you are reconciliation (Mt 5:24), peace with all (Mk 9:50), assiduity in fellowship (Acts 2:44), unity of heart and soul (Acts 4:32; Col 2:2); Charity, sole criterion of ecclesiality (Jn 14:35), community building (1 Cor 8:2), mutual indebtedness (Rom 13:8), necessary perseverance (Heb 13:1), breath of faith (Jas 2:14-26); Charity, spiritual tension (1 Cor 14:1; 1 Tim 6:11; 2 Tim 2:22), mutual stimulation (Heb 10:24), source of full joy (Jn 15:11).
Charity, love of Christ, his offering for us, in sacrifice (Eph 5:2), his death for us sinners (Rom 5:6-10); Charity of Christ, rooting and grounding us (Eph 3:17), making us holy and purifying us, nourishing and healing us (Eph 5:25-30); Charity of Christ, whose breadth, length, height and depth we cannot grasp, so that it surpasses all knowledge (Eph 3:18-19); Charity of Christ, from whom neither tribulation, nor distress, nor persecution, nor hunger, nor nakedness, nor danger, nor sword, nor death, nor life can ever separate us (Rom 8:35-39).
Charity, love for Christ (Jn 21:15-19), losing one’s life for his sake (Mk 8:35), persecution for his sake (Acts 5:41), preaching his Name (Phil 1:16), incorruptible love (Eph 6:24), continually driving us on (2 Cor 5:14).
God’s charity, his paternal affection (Jer 31:9; Isa 63:16; Jn 16:27…), his motherly gentleness (Hos 11:4; Isa 49:15); his nuptial love in faithfulness and tenderness (Hos 2:21), divine spousal, intimate knowledge of him (Hos 2:22; Isa 54:5-7); gift to us of his Only Begotten, pure heavenly initiative (1 Jn 4:9-10. 19), source of our love (1 Jn 4:11), confidence in the day of judgment, security that casts out all fear (1 Jn 4:17-18).
Charity that you are God himself (1 Jn 4:8, 16), purest Love that gives you everything, that completely empties yourself, that for us you make yourself the great Poor One, whose total oblation we adore as we contemplate the Crucified One…