Wednesday of the Twenty-Fourth Week in Ordinary Time, Year II (Sts. Cornelius and Cyprian, Martyrs). 1 Cor.12:31-13:13; Ps.33:2-22; Luke 7:31-35
“Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends…” Reading through these lines, I sincerely wish we were all able to love as St Paul teaches us today. Is it truly possible to act in the best interest of others at all times?
Friends, we see the fruits of this kind of unconditional love of God and neighbour in the deep faith of Cornelius and Cyprian, which led to their persecution and martyrdom. During the Decian persecution, Cornelius and Cyprian argued that Christians who rejected the faith should be welcomed back after serving penance. They sought to gather, rather than scatter. Cornelius was exiled under Emperor Gallus in 253 AD, and died in exile, while Cyprian was martyred under Emperor Valerian in 258 AD. Their lives and manner of death led many back to the faith. Can we do same?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, with a grateful heart, I pray this day that my actions toward You and my neighbour may not be with evil intent or malice, but inspired by unconditional love, Amen.
Sts. Cornelius and Cyprian, pray for us!
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