"Love is in the air"
/February 14, 2022
Scripture
Looking at his disciples, he said: …. ‘If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that…. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
(Luke 6:17,32,33,35 NIVUK)
“Love is in the air”
Can’t you just feel it? The sweet music of horns and protesters, politicians issuing one edict after another, most of us just trying to keep our heads down in our own groups - and find the appropriate card for our Valentine. It’s all so soothing and comforting to our ravaged souls.
I know that Valentine’s Day is really a construct of the marketing genii behind florists, card makers and chocolatiers – but it is kind of fun to take a moment to offer a gift however cheesy to someone we love. Maybe even better to someone we don’t like, and wish was behaving differently.
That’s where Jesus makes life complicated for us – his credit and benefit ledger has to do with loving, giving, blessing our enemies not just those in our own group. As he looked out at his friends he didn’t issue a list of principles, he shared his heart for what they could become – if they saw the world through a very different lens.
Our angry quid pro quo world needs us seeing blessing and praying for our opponents as a valuable thing to do. Jesus’ vision for us is much greater and kinder than our own vision for ourselves.
A Prayer for Today
God of Mercy & Kindness, you have been in our world and among us and you know how easily we become distracted from what really is important in the long run. Forgive me for the many times I just react to annoyances without considering the circumstances of those whom I consider the cause. Help me catch your vision of a world that values blessing and giving with no expectation of return …. For Jesus’s sake.
