Love

Because it is Christmas tomorrow I thought it appropriate to do something from the Christian tradition. To my mind one of the most beautiful passages to be found in any sacred scriptures is St Paul's comments on love which he wrote to the Corinthians. I have presented the slightly modified version of the King James Version because of the beauty of its language But it is the meaning of the words that makes this passage so special. Read it thoughtfully and slowly for best effect.

'Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not love, I am become as sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I can move mountains, and have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and I give my body to be burned, and have not love, it profit me nothing. Love is longsuffering and kind; love envies not; love does not vaunt itself, is not puffed up, does not behave itself unseemly, seeks not its own, is not easily provoked, thinks no evil; rejoices not in iniquity, but rejoices the truth; it bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. But whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass darkly; but then face to face. Now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. And now abides faith, hope and love, there three; but the greatest of these is love.'