for September 16
Memorial of Saints Cornelius, Pope and Cyprian, Bishop, Martyrs

Today’s first reading from Paul’s letter to the Corinthians is extremely familiar to me. We do many weddings at the parish and the reading’s first two sections are a selection chosen by a great majority of couples, though there are a few brides who having heard it too often want no part of it. The passage is selected because it deals with love; in fact, the wedding selection ends with the last sentence of the second section: love never fails.

I usually point out that Paul is not talking about marriage here though he does so elsewhere in the letter. The context is he wants to challenge those in the divisive Corinthian community who abuse and boast about their spiritual gifts, such as praying in tongues and prophecy. He desires the whole Christian community, and therefore ourselves as well, to deepen in love for one another. He sets the stage by beginning with love as patient and kind, precisely which many Corinthians were not. Married couples sometimes smile at this reading, recognizing it is clearly an ideal, but it is a realistic one because if, for example, love bears and endures all things, the implication is that there will be things to be borne and endured, as in any relationship.

In the third section of today’s reading Paul tries to broaden the perspective by bringing in an eternal life dimension when we will know fully and be fully known. Then love is greater than faith or hope because love reflects the very nature of our God who is love.

In the gospel, Jesus is telling the crowds that some people are like stubborn children. In the marketplace, perhaps better called the town square since it is where everyone gathered all the time, one group of children is apparently trying to get another group of children to play with them in some kind of game the details of which are lost. The others are criticized for not dancing to a flute or (pretending to be?) weeping to a dirge.

Jesus then points how both he and the Baptist are both criticized for differing practices. John is criticized for not eating normal food but as told elsewhere he fed on locusts and wild honey. He also did not drink wine which sounds like the Nazarite vow described in the Old Testament for those dedicated to the service of the Lord. Usually temporary, it did not allow wine and strong drink or cutting your hair.

Jesus on the other hand is criticized for eating and drinking so much as to seem a glutton and a drunkard. But the real charge is that he is eating and drinking with the tax collectors and sinners they accuse him of having befriended, likely hoping to lead them to repentance. The conclusion is that God-given wisdom is vindicated in her children, that actions are judged positively by their results. The disciples of both John and Jesus recognize that God is working through them and therefore doing so in themselves, as we pray the Lord is also doing in us.
—Edward O’Donnell SJ

Today’s readings can be found on the US Conference of Catholic Bishops’ website.