What is Love?

 

Over the years I have listened to a number of sermons on this topic particularly as it relates to Corinthians 1 Chapter 13.

On Sunday I heard another.   Here the erudite Minister was clear that this was not a letter of praise to members of the Church but one of admonition and criticism of how Love/Charity had become interpreted by them and what it had come to mean in their hands. Thus he sets out very clearly what love is certainly not.  As the Minister stated, in this letter – Paul went for the jugular, and was at pains to show how far the institution of the Church had slipped.

He stated clearly that it was not about: speaking with the tongues of men and of angels; having understanding and all knowledge or having all faith strong enough to move mountains;

It is not about bestowing goods to feed the poor or even doing tangible things.  Because unless all these are accompanied and tempered with love/ charity all this is no better than tinkling brass and sounding symbols, signifying nothing – ie it is a waste of time and energy.

Neither is love/charity envious, unseemly, boastful or puffed up, untruthful, thinks evil or seeks adherents to support such behaviour, nor is it easily provoked – because such behaviour is childish.  And as adults we need to put away childish things.

This led me to reflect on my time as a Parish Councillor in Betley. I had  volunteered to join the Council (I had not been coopeted like the majority of other councillors) because I knew several people in Betley who were kind and selfless in their service to others.  Unfortunately, within the Council itself, I often struggled to find that same spirit of charity.  There were moments of goodwill, but they were too often overshadowed by conflict, exclusion, and a lack of compassion.

It seemed that questioning or challenging decisions was unwelcome, and those who tried to do so risked isolation. I came away with the sense that, at times, institutions can lose sight of the very values they were created to uphold — much as Paul warned the Corinthians.

Love, humility, and truth are not easy virtues to practice within structures of power, but without them, those structures inevitably falter.