Wednesday of the Twenty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time
In class at the seminary last week I learned a new vocabulary word. Pianoforte is a word that has become abbreviated and now we simply call it a piano. Pianoforte translates from its Italian roots to mean soft and strong. This imagery rushed upon me as I reflected on these readings from scripture. Angelic tongues, without love, are like clashing cymbals. While a piano can be played and the notes can be rendered precisely, without love is it really music?
We are often the pianist and our body and mind is the instrument. The Lord is trying to work through us to utilize the fullness of our rich gifts if we would allow it. The Lord is calling us to change and grow, yet we are too busy looking backwards or sideways, that we fail to see the path ahead. The Lord provided us with work and we get the job done thoroughly, but complain the whole time while we are doing it. A friend is struggling to share a deep hurt and we busy trying to figure how to get out of the conversation. Where is the patience? Where is the kindness? Where is the love?
It is not enough for us to be soft when we are meant to be soft or strong when we are meant to be strong. To be sure those are good things, however if they are done without love, then they are just strong words or soft actions. Resting in the Lord’s love consider one way you might change and/or be more mindful of how God is lovingly inviting each of us wisely walk in the ways of Christ. Amen!
- Michael Montgomery