But the Pope… But the Bishops…. But liturgical abuse…. But the latest scandal….. But he… But she… But they….. But I……. But the__________. (enter complaint du jour here)

 

1 Corinthians, chapter 13

1 If I speak in human and angelic tongues^* but do not have love, I am a resounding gong or a clashing cymbal.^a2 And if I have the gift of prophecy and comprehend all mysteries and all knowledge; if I have all faith so as to move mountains but do not have love, I am nothing.^b3 If I give away everything I own, and if I hand my body over so that I may boast but do not have love, I gain nothing.^c

4 ^* Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, [love] is not pompous, it is not inflated,^d5 it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury,^e6 it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth.7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.^f

8 ^* Love never fails. If there are prophecies, they will be brought to nothing; if tongues, they will cease; if knowledge, it will be brought to nothing.9 For we know partially and we prophesy partially,10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.11 When I was a child, I used to talk as a child, think as a child, reason as a child; when I became a man, I put aside childish things. 12 At present we see indistinctly, as in a mirror, but then face to face. At present I know partially; then I shall know fully, as I am fully known.^g 13^* So faith, hope, love remain, these three;^h but the greatest of these is love.