September 16, 2026 // Memorial of Saints Cornelius, Pope, and Cyprian, Bishop, Martyrs

Read the Word // Open your Bible to today’s First Reading: 1 Corinthians 12: 31-13:13

Reflect on the Word //

The word “lovebomb” sounds like a wonderful explosion of love—something I as a romantic at heart would enjoy—but the term is more damaging than beautiful.

When I first started seriously dating after graduate school, I had thought I had found “the one.” He was kind, intelligent, and very vocal about how much he liked me and saw a future with me. I was elated! I was loved. 

But I wasn’t; that egregious outflow of compliments, reassuring words, and tender actions didn’t last longer than a few dates when he randomly ended things with me via text and a few curt words. 

I had been lovebombed, not loved.

Luckily for me, today’s First Reading holds a divine example of true love that I frequently turn to in times like these.

Saint Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians describes what true love looks like—one that pursues, one that is ever-lasting, and one that does not fade quickly after flowery words and performative actions. “Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, love is not pompous, it is not inflated,” and so on (1 Corinthians 13:4). That guy who made me feel so much was definitely not patient—he just left—and his love was surely pompous and inflated in hindsight. 

Saint Paul’s definition of love—even-tempered, selfless, and truth-seeking—was everything I wanted and more, and I often found myself questioning, Where in my life will I find a partner with all these traits and green flags, a love I could believe in? And the answer is and always will be Jesus Christ Himself. He is the true Love Who is patient with you, sees you for who you are, and intentionally loves you in all the ways you yearn for. Jesus “bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things,” and He “never fails” (1 Corinthians 13: 7-8).

Sister, no matter your vocation, let Jesus’ love explode all over your life in a good way! Believe in His words and actions because He will never stop pursuing you until you are His.

Relate to the Lord // Read 1 Corinthians 13 and replace the word love with the Name of Jesus. What stands out to you?