In this Bible study on 1 Corinthians 13:8-13, Fr. Gabriel reflects on St. Paul’s teaching about the enduring nature of love compared to the temporary nature of all other gifts. Prophecy, knowledge, and tongues will pass away, but love, or agape, is eternal. This selfless, unconditional love reflects God’s very nature and surpasses all other virtues.
Fr. Gabriel explains that our current understanding of God is like seeing “in a mirror dimly,” but in eternity, we will see Him face to face and fully know Him as He knows us. This life, he says, is like childhood—a preparation for the maturity of eternal life. Just as a child’s play prepares them for adulthood, our earthly experiences shape us for our ultimate union with God.
St. Paul reminds us that faith, hope, and love are the lasting qualities of a Christian life, but the greatest is love. It is the one virtue we take with us beyond the grave, uniting us with God and with one another in the heavenly kingdom. Through love, we embody the eternal and live in anticipation of the life to come.
