Quinquagesima Sunday - meaning it is approximately 50 days until Easter. It is also the last Sunday of the Season of Septuagesima and the last Sunday before Lent begins on Ash Wednesday.
In the Gospel for today, again in the Extraoridnary Rite, Jesus heals the blind man on the side of the road who pleads for Jesus, Son of David to have mercy on him. Jesus hears him and tells him that his faith has healed him, and restores his sight.
For today's Epistle, we have the teaching on charity or love:(1 Corinthians 13. 1-13)
Brethren, If I speak with the tongues of men and of Angels, and have not
charity, I am become as sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal. And if I should
have prophecy, and should know all mysteries and all knowledge: and if I
should have all faith so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I
am nothing. And if I should distribute all my goods to feed the poor, and if I
should deliver my body to be burned and have not charity, it profiteth me
nothing. Charity is patient, is kind: Charity envieth not, dealing not perversely,
is not puffed up, is not ambitious, seeketh not her own, is not provoked to
anger, thinketh no evil, rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth with the truth:
beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
Charity never falleth away: whether prophecies shall be made void, or tongues
shall cease, or knowledge shall be destroyed. For we know in part, and we
prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, that which is in part
shall be done away. When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a
child, I thought as a child. But when I became a man, I put away the things of a
child. We see now through a glass in a dark manner: but then face to face. Now
I know in part: but then I shall know even as I am known. And now there
remain faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
Of note, this is yet another scriptural teaching against sola fide (faith alone). For faith, if it is alone, is nothing - and faith without charity is nothing. For a true saving faith, it will be accompanied by good works, of which love, or charity, is one. If one does not have charity in their heart, which is part of saving grace, then faith or believing accomplishes nothing - for even the devils believe in Jesus Christ, but that belief does not save them.