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What the Fathers say
Eastern Fathers
John Chrysostom
Then he subjoins further the most powerful consolation, and sufficient to recover them and quiet their vexed souls. And what is this? "Desire earnestly," saith he, "the better gifts. And a still more excellent way show I unto you." Now by saying this, he gently hinted that they were the cause of their own receiving the lesser gifts, and had it in their power, if they would, to receive the greater. For when he saith, "desire earnestly," he demands from them all diligence and desire for spiritual things. …
Theophylact of Ohrid
He secretly hinted that they themselves were to blame for having received lesser gifts. For by the word "earnestly desire" he demands effort on their part, and a greater striving toward the spiritual. In the Greek it does not say "greater" (τα μείζονα), but "better" (τα κρείττονα), that is, the most useful.
Western Saints
Thomas Aquinas
Then when he says, But earnestly, he rectifies their affection for the above spiritual gifts, saying: Since there are many gifts of the Holy Spirit, earnestly desire the higher gifts, namely, have a stronger desire for the better graces; for example, prophecy rather than the gift of tongues, as will be said below (c. 14); "Test everything; hold fast what is good" (1 Th 5:21). …
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