b'Before we take a look at Saint Pauls answer, lets remind ourselves that if Paul was an expert in love, he was also an expert in not loving well. He considered himself the worst sinner of all (see 1 Timothy 1:15) because he persecuted the first followers of Christ. He tried to haul them off to jail, where they would be tried as blasphemers and perhaps crucified as Jesus was. That was his rsum before the Risen Christ literally stopped him in his tracks and turned him around. (We celebrate this turning every year on the Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul on January 25.)So Paul is not presenting himself here as someone who has always acted out of love. Even after his conversion, he probably had to work at it, as we all do. What is love? Here is Pauls answer:Love is patient and kind; it is not jealous or conceited or proud;love is not ill-mannered or selfish or irritable; love does not keep arecord of wrongs; love is not happy with evil, but is happy with thetruth. Love never gives up; and its faith, hope, and patience never fail.Love is eternal. (1 Corinthians 13:48)LoveAnother And later in this paragraph, Paul adds: Meanwhile these three remain: faith, hope, and love; and the greatest of these is love. (Verse 13)19smp.org/inspire 7ElementaryMagazine_Fall 2021_FN.indd 7 7/30/21 7:11 AM'