Mallard hen and chick, Olympia, WA USA
One of the most beloved scripture readings is Paul’s description of love in his first letter to the Corinthians. I have read this description of love, heard it in weddings, seen it on stationary, many, many times, but Fr. Columba Jordan opened my eyes up to a new way of reading it.
Read the following scripture passage first in the way it was originally written, then re-read the passage by inserting your name wherever love is used or referred to. Then examine your conscience to identify areas that you need to ask for God’s help in becoming the crusader of love he wants you to be.
Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, [love] is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. - 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Another twist that you might want to consider is during certain times of the year, such as during lent, to read this passage on love and use Jesus’s name where the word love is referred to and examine how Jesus’s life reflects the true gift of love.