This week, Christians will be focusing on love on the fourth Sunday of Advent. That’s when they will light the fourth candle of Advent: the candle of love. Many do so, believing God is love.
Almost everybody talks of love…but few can truly define it. But what, in all seriousness, is this emotion, this virtue, this state of being called love?
I guess the simplest answer is: Love is a gift; a gift from God. We, as Christians, believe that God’s greatest gift of love was Jesus.
As we read the Christmas narrative in the gospels, an angel appears to Joseph telling him that he will have a son and instructing Joseph to name his son Emmanuel, meaning ‘God with us’. Jesus, born a baby, fully God and fully human, taught us how to love by example.
Jesus’ love was unconditional. He taught us to love everyone (no small task).
He taught us to love our enemies. He taught us not to discriminate, not to label people, not to play favourites. He taught us to welcome strangers into our homes, to feed people who are hungry, to give clothes to those who need clothing, to visit people in prison and to give a drink of cold water to those who are thirsty.
Simply put, he modelled what it means to really love our neighbours as ourselves. We follow this model as we strive to be the Hand of God in our daily living.
I love Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 NIV
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 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 the Fourth Sunday of Advent, I would offer this prayer:
God of all love, thank you for loving us.
Thank you for the Advent and Christmas season, which reminds us of how to love others as ourselves.
Be with all who do not feel love at this time of year; those who live on the streets and in shelters, those who are estranged from family and friends, those who are suffering from substance abuse, those who are in mourning, those who are lost and need a light, those who will be on duty through Christmas – doctors, nurses, first responders.
And God, please do not forget all your creatures, wild or homed. May all know your love and compassion instead of abuse.
Reveal to them through us that they too are loved.
Amen
In hope, peace, joy and love
Pastor Beryl, DLM