Once upon a time there was a young man who went to school very often. His grades and behavior were a disappointment to his parents who, as good Christians, dreamed of seeing him graduated and successful. One fine day, the good father proposed an agreement to him:
- If you, my son, change your behavior, dedicate yourself to your studies and manage to be approved in the entrance exam for Medical school, then I will give you a car as a gift.
Because of the car, the young man changed completely. He began to study like never before and had exemplary behavior. The father was happy, but he had a concern. He knew that the boy's change was not the fruit of a sincere conversion, but only of interest in obtaining the automobile. This was bad!
The young man continued his studies and awaited the results of his efforts. Thus, the great day arrived! He had been approved for the Medicine course. As he had promised, the father invited the family and friends to a celebration party. The young man was certain that at the party his father would give him the automobile.
When he asked to speak, the father praised the result obtained by his son and handed him a gift box. Believing that the car keys were there, the young man opened the package emotionally. To his surprise it was a BIBLE. The young man was visibly disappointed and said nothing.
From that day on, silence and distance separated father and son. The young man felt betrayed and now struggled to be independent. He left his parents' house and moved to the University Campus. He rarely sent news to his family. Time passed, he graduated, got a job at a good hospital and completely forgot about his father. All of the father's attempts to restore the bonds were in vain. Until one day the old man, very sad about the situation, became ill and did not survive: he died.
At the funeral, the mother handed the indifferent son the Bible that had been his father's last gift and which had been left behind. Back at his house, the young man, who had never forgiven his father, when he placed the book on a shelf, noticed that there was an envelope inside it. Upon opening it, he found a letter and a check. The letter said:
"My dear son, I know how much you want to have a car I promised and here is the check so you can choose the one that pleases you most. However, I made sure to give you an even better gift: The HOLY BIBLE. In it you will learn love for God and to do good, not for the pleasure of reward, but out of gratitude and out of a sense of duty".
Corroded by remorse, the son fell into deep tears. And the letter ended like this:
"How sad is the life of those who do not know how to forgive. This leads to terrible mistakes and an even worse end. Before it's too late, forgive the one you think has wronged you. Perhaps if you look carefully, you will see that there is also a hidden check".
(author unknown)
1 Corinthians 13.
“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.
For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
Text sent by Alessandro Macari .
alessandro_macari@hotmail.com