A Season of Love

This is the season of love. 

No, I’m not talking about the red hearts and the pink and red candies, chocolates galore and more roses than you can imagine.  But we are still in a season of love.

Right now we are still in the season following Epiphany, as we await the beginning of the season of Lent on Ash Wednesday.  The word epiphany is Greek for manifestation, and this manifestation of God is one of love.  God is manifested in the Jesus Christ, that all the world may know God’s love.

There are many legends and myths that surround the holiday of St. Valentine’s Day.  Some talk about a man named Valentine who would grant marriages to soldiers even though the Roman state forbid marriages for young men, especially soldiers.  NPR recently shared a story about the Roman feast of Lupercalia that was celebrated from February 13 to 15 and included brutal sacrificing of goats and dogs and a matchmaking lottery in which men drew the names of their female matches from a jar.

If sacrificial dogs and goats and illegal marriages don’t say “I love you,” what does?  Much more in fact.

As we celebrate the manifestation of God’s love during this season after Epiphany, I think we have more of an idea of what love truly looks like than Hallmark gives us credit for.  Love may not look like sacrificial dogs and goats, nor will it always look like candy hearts and red roses either.  Our first celebration of love came to us in a barn or a cave, among the least of these, in the humblest of circumstances.  We can take a hint at God’s incarnation in the humblest of circumstances, that love almost always looks a bit unusual and unexpected.

Holy love, the pure, honest kind that lifts us up and salves our wounds, is rarely decorated with lace and trimmings.  Love incarnate in our lives is a bit unusual and unexpected.  Love's incarnate acts are often subtle and imperceptible.

The funny card in the mail.  The moment in the crazy day or week or month where you hear, "Oh, let me take care of this."  The quiet morning before an insanely busy day.  The memory of a loved one that flashes across our hearts and causes us to smile or laugh.   The acts that respond to needs in a good and helpful and healthy way.  

Love is patient, love is kind.  It looks out for the needs of others without thinking about how others will be beholden to them, without keeping others on some proverbial string.  Love blooms where it's planted – cave, barn, homeless shelter, mission station, or on the front porch rocking chairs with a glass of sweet team and silly stories.  Love doesn't tell you constantly how life without that type of love will be bad, but stands courageously with you (and will also tell you it's okay to be scared).   Love laughs at inappropriate moments, cries the ugly cry, and celebrates the smallest of victories.

Love came down at Christmas, and has manifested itself in the life of Jesus Christ, in all the ways we celebrate this season of Epiphany, just to remind us what love really looks like.

May you always know you are truly loved by our Creator.  In Peace and Love ~ Rev. Laura