Today’s sermon text was 1 Corinthians 13:1-13. I think the Vicar did a good job in trying to get her point across. It is one of those texts in which assumptions push their way into interpretation.

On the way home I was reflecting on the sermon. And I was struck by a pretty simple point: has love been a positive experience for me? In the sense of a human relationship that is truly human, has love been something that has shown God to me? The assumption when people speak about love – no matter how they may define it – is that it is a positive experience. The assumption is that being in love, being loved, is an experience that a human being would find fulfilling. I have felt love for other people but, on reflection, has it been love or infatuation? I have been, to quote a really poor song from the 80’s, “in love with love”?

I think I need to learn to love. I am not sure I have ever really known love in the sense of 1 Corinthians. Intellectually I understand that the love St Paul is speaking about is embodied in Jesus. And to Him I look! But in the sense of a human relationship, the paradox of being loved, I am not sure I have ever really experienced love.

Sorry if that is a bit of a downer. I know I will see things differently tomorrow – I always see things differently tomorrow.