Love – A Lenten Reflection

In last Sunday’s sermon based in part on the Ten Commandments my focus was on the covenant between God and God’s children. We are called to love God with all that we have and all that we are, to love our neighbor as ourselves, and yes, to love every neighbor, even our enemies.

The theme for our Lenten midweek services this year is Journey Toward Love. As we explore God’s love for us, God’s love for others, our love for God, and our love for others; we are challenged to reflect on how we live out this sacred calling to love.

A part of living a life of love is found in John 3:14-21. While many folks immediately turn to John 3:16 with the promise of salvation; I was challenged to look a bit further into what Jesus was saying. In verses 19-21 light and darkness are discussed. Those who love darkness rather than light do so because they don’t want their deeds exposed. On the other hand, those who love the light aren’t afraid to have their deeds exposed because their deeds are good and pleasing to God.

If we follow the command to love God and neighbor, we are living in the light of God’s love. If we live in that love and share that love, the call of Micah is indeed fulfilled. What is required of us? To do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God. (Micah 6:8)

As the Lenten journey continues, my prayer is that the call to love will transform not only my own heart and life, but will transform others. Anne Frank wrote the following about being such a witness: Look at how a single candle can both defy and define the darkness.

I’ll close with the following thoughts about love from Thomas Merton: Love seeks one thing only: the good of the one loved. It leaves all the other secondary effects to take care of themselves. Love, therefore, is its own reward. (No Man is an Island, p. 3)