These Things Remain, Week 3: Love When We’re Torn

I Corinthians 13:1-13 (The First Nations Bible)

1 I may have the gift of speaking in both the languages of human beings and of spirit-messengers, but if I fail to love, my words become like the screech of a cat or the yelping of a wild dog. 

2 I may have prophetic powers and the ability to see into sacred mysteries and understand all things. I might even have faith strong enough to make mountains move. But if I fail to love, I am nothing.

3 I may give all my possessions to the poor and give my body to be burned as a sacrifice, but if I fail to love, I have gained no honor.

4 Love is patient and kind. Love is never jealous. It does not brag or boast. It is not puffed up or big-headed.

5 Love does not act in shameful ways, nor does it care only about itself. It is not hot-headed, nor does it keep track of wrongs done to it.

6 Love is not happy with lies and injustice, but truth makes its heart glad.

7 Love keeps walking even when carrying a heavy load. Love keeps trusting, never loses hope, and stands firm in hard times.

8 The road of love has no end. The time will come when prophets are no longer needed, when people will stop speaking in unknown languages, and when the need for knowledge will fade away.

9 For we only know some of the story and can only prophesy small parts of it,

10 but the time is coming when we will know the whole story from beginning to end.

11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, and I saw through the eyes of a child. But when I became fully grown, I put my childish ways behind me.

12 For now, it is as if we are looking at a poor reflection in muddy water, but then we will see face to face. For now, my knowledge is full of holes, but when that time comes, I will know the Great Spirit as well as I am known by him.

13 But until then, these three remain—faith, hope, and love—and love is the greatest!