LOVE IS THE KEY TO HEAVEN
Wednesday of the 24th week in Ordinary Time
My dear encountered couples:
I would like to paraphrase St. Paul today, if I may have your permission. He tells us that “in the end,” in other words, when it comes right down to what is really worthwhile in life, “there are three things that last: faith, hope, and love,” and he says “the greatest of these is love,” “If I speak with human tongues” Paul says, and angelic as well, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong, a clanging symbol. If I get up early in the morning and fix my family breakfast, if I kiss them and wish them a good day as they leave for school and work, if I clean the house and wash the clothes and have plenty of food ready for them when they return, but do not do it with love in my heart for them, I am wasting my day.
“If I go off to work, give it my all, be thoughtful and kind and considerate towards all my fellow employees, come home and kiss my wife and play with the children, but do not have love, my day is meaningless."
“If I donate to the church, buy girl scout cookies, drop money in the cans held out to me in front of grocery stores and Wall-Mart, if I refrain from smoking, drinking, swearing, and would never think of taking drugs or engaging in illicit sex, but do not have love, I am merely spinning my wheels and killing time.”
I think I’ll stop there. Paul has made his point. Now the only question remaining is one that people have been asking since time began. What is Love? Find that out and possess it, and you have the key to heaven. Try not losing it after you’ve got it.
