On Valentine’s Day I received a card from some whom I love
and respect very much. In the card there was a reflection which stated, “One
could/should have every day of the year full of Love. In 2020 we get one extra
day. As people of God, we should rejoice and be glad. We are all challenged to
every day life. To be there for others who struggle – in joy or sorrow. God
loves us unconditionally; God accepts us and tries each day to mould us into
the commandants of love. It’s not easy, but love everyone, each day and everything
around us.”
This reflection has been flowing through my thoughts over
the last week. It has haunted me when I have not loved well the others in my
life, my brothers with whom I live or even myself. It has encouraged me to
reflect on my actions and words and thoughts; how is love penetrating my
everyday? It has caused me to pause and remember that in all the busy, all the
doing, all the demands and tasks that God’s love is present and this love is be
my pattern of living.
We read in the first letter of John: “Perfect love casts out
fear” and In the Islam tradition a quote by Fazil reads “Love is the hidden way
into the sanctuary of God.” It is tough to admit that much of our fear has to
do with love. We fear we are not loved enough, that no one can love us, that we
are not worthy of love by another, a community or God. It is foolishness really
and still we let it be what guides us. Perfect love we will never know until we
are embraced in heaven, but our actions each day make known a taste of this
perfect love. The way we “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute
you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5.38-48) is
the hidden way. The sanctuary of God resides in each one of us. We are vessels
of love, called to perfect that love more each day. We are vessels of love,
aware that others are hurting and so are we but that does not mean that love is
not present. We are vessels of love; with each breath we breathe in God and
breath out fear, for our God is love present always.
God’s acceptance is unconditional because we are made in the
image and likeness of love. How amazing is that? Being moulded and shaped into
the commandment of love is to love our neighbours and love God. May we imprint
into our hearts, our living, our breathing that we are holy, for God is holy (Leviticus
19.1-2). This is the truth of love, that holiness is woven into all we are:
today – good or bad, in this Leap Year with a bonus day and always whether the
sun shines or not.
Here we are one week away from that extra day in 2020.
What are you going to do about it?
Here we are days way from Lent – “The Season of Love”.
How are you going to add more love to the world
with an extra
day to do it?
How are you going to rejoice and be glad
that God’s love is
everlasting?
Maybe Leap Year can remind us that we experience ‘bonus’
days of love all the time, not just on February 29 and not just when all is
perfect or right or good. As another valentine reminded me, “My heart is bigger
than my hat!” Does that not give a fun and beautiful increasing image of the God of love? I
think so and I rejoice and am glad because of it!
Blessings on the week ahead!
Happy Leap Year!
Let love be our way, our truth, our life – for it is our
very breath.
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