Daily Reading for Wednesday, September 15th, 2010

Reading 1, 1 Cor 12:31?13:13

³¹ Set your mind on the higher gifts. And now I am going to put before you the best way of all.

¹ Though I command languages both human and angelic -- if I speak without love, I am no more than a gong booming or a cymbal clashing.

² And though I have the power of prophecy, to penetrate all mysteries and knowledge, and though I have all the faith necessary to move mountains -- if I am without love, I am nothing.

³ Though I should give away to the poor all that I possess, and even give up my body to be burned -- if I am without love, it will do me no good whatever.

⁴ Love is always patient and kind; love is never jealous; love is not boastful or conceited,

⁵ it is never rude and never seeks its own advantage, it does not take offence or store up grievances.

⁶ Love does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but finds its joy in the truth.

⁷ It is always ready to make allowances, to trust, to hope and to endure whatever comes.

⁸ Love never comes to an end. But if there are prophecies, they will be done away with; if tongues, they will fall silent; and if knowledge, it will be done away with.

⁹ For we know only imperfectly, and we prophesy imperfectly;

¹⁰ but once perfection comes, all imperfect things will be done away with.

¹¹ When I was a child, I used to talk like a child, and see things as a child does, and think like a child; but now that I have become an adult, I have finished with all childish ways.

¹² Now we see only reflections in a mirror, mere riddles, but then we shall be seeing face to face. Now I can know only imperfectly; but then I shall know just as fully as I am myself known.

¹³ As it is, these remain: faith, hope and love, the three of them; and the greatest of them is love.

Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 31:2-3, 3-4, 5-6, 15-16, 20

² turn your ear to me, make haste. Be for me a rock-fastness, a fortified citadel to save me.

³ You are my rock, my rampart; true to your name, lead me and guide me!

⁴ Draw me out of the net they have spread for me, for you are my refuge;

⁵ to your hands I commit my spirit, by you have I been redeemed. God of truth,

⁶ you hate those who serve useless idols; but my trust is in Yahweh:

¹⁵ every moment of my life is in your hands, rescue me from the clutches of my foes who pursue me;

¹⁶ let your face shine on your servant, save me in your faithful love.

²⁰ Safe in your presence you hide them, far from human plotting, shielding them in your tent, far from contentious tongues.