“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son…” – John 3:16
Flowers, poems, breakfast in bed, a weekend away or grand gestures is how our culture defines love. Things that elicit particular feelings or sensations are categorized as love, and in the West (conveniently) there is always something you can buy to help you get there.
Discipline, fasting and ashes certainly can’t compete.
The radical nature of Jesus’s teachings may be muted for us as we navigate the barriers of culture, history and familiarity. The stories about and teachings from Jesus show us that divine love looks more like sacrifice, care for others, and treasure in heaven than the American ideals of love. The coming events of Holy Week and Easter remind us that the way of love, the way of Jesus is non-violent.
One of the opportunities within Lent is to re-order our passions. In this week, consider ways that your love reflects the qualities of God’s love.
O God, our ideas of love are so small and conditional. May your Spirit continue to stir in us, expanding our knowing of you and your ways. Amen.
Some Comfort and Joy was developed as a devotional resource that follows the rhythms and seasons of the liturgical year from an Anabaptist-Mennonite perspective.
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