Paul’s words on love in the first reading stood out to me today. “Love never fails.” He says that love “bears all things.” He is talking about agape, that supernatural love that comes from God. The love of the Holy Spirit living in us.

And I started thinking about what that actually means in the world we live in. We compete. We compare. We disagree. We pick sides. We want to win. But that doesn’t necessarily go against love. Paul himself talks about running the race to win.

Agape doesn’t mean I have to let you win the race. It means that even while I am trying to beat you, I still want what is truly best for you. Not necessarily what you want. Not necessarily what I want for you. I want God’s best for you. Ultimately, I want to see you in heaven. Heck, I pray every one of you becomes holier than me. If I truly love you, why wouldn’t I want that for you?

That carried over into the Gospel for me when Jesus says, “Wisdom is vindicated by all her children.” I kept coming back to that word “children.” What does this agape produce in us and in the people around us?

In my opinion, Jesus has already told us. Give and it will be given to you, “a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing.” The measure with which we measure will be measured back to us.

So choose agape. Want God’s best for the people we come across today. Love them, even when we disagree, even when we compete, and then trust Jesus with the overflowing fruit that comes from it.

Lord, give us the grace to love others with Your agape love today. Holy Spirit, help us truly want God’s best for every person we encounter and ultimately to want to see them in heaven.

I pray you get the graces you need today.

Keep up the good fight.

I’m praying for you. Please pray for me.

Scripture References:
1 Corinthians 12:31–13:13
Luke 7:31–35
Luke 6:38