St Valentine
Love, love changes everything
Smack bang in the middle of February is St Valentine’s Day. We don’t know much about St Valentine, at least not that we can reliably verify. However, 14th February, the day that traditionally marked the death of a 3rd century Roman called Valentine, is a day when we express our love for one another, particularly our romantic love.
The language of the New Testament has three words for love, meaning romantic love, brotherly love, and unconditional selfless love that endures regardless of circumstance. The latter is the kind of love that God has for us.
So, around this time of St Valentine’s Day what do we really mean by love? What did John Lennon mean when he wrote “all you need is love”.
St Paul explained something of what love is in his first letter to the Corinthians, chapter 13. This is how the Contemporary English Version translates, Paul’s Greek original;
“What if I could speak all languages of humans and even of angels?
If I did not love others, I would be nothing more than a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
2 What if I could prophesy and understand all mysteries and all knowledge? And what if I had faith that moved mountains? I would be nothing, unless I loved others.
3 What if I gave away all that I owned and let myself be burned alive? I would gain nothing, unless I loved others.
4 Love is patient and kind, Never jealous, boastful, Proud, or 5 rude.
Love isn't selfish or quick tempered. It doesn't keep a record of wrongs that others do.
6Love rejoices in the truth, but not in evil.
7 Love is always supportive, loyal, hopeful, and trusting.
8 Love never fails!”
Love is a force that makes people feel wanted, welcomed, and upheld, even during difficult times or personal failings. Love is not conditional on someone’s behaviour; it persists through anger, argument, or selfishness, always affirming and restoring. Love endures inconvenience and frustration, even hurt. True love is sacrificial, putting others’ needs before one’s own. It is not about granting every desire, but about doing what is genuinely best for the other. We see this demonstrated by Jesus and the apostles throughout the New Testament. Maybe love is all we need.
However, we also see in the New Testament that love does not guarantee smooth relationships, disagreements and difficulties are inevitable, but love is characterised by patience, forgiveness, and putting others before self.
Jesus said that just as he loves us so we should love one another – challenging us to love our neighbour – meaning anyone and everyone, even our enemies. He was reiterating the Old Testament commandments in Leviticus 19:18 (which he explained using the parable of the Good Samaritan – Luke 10) and in Leviticus 18:34 about treating the foreigner living in your land as if they were your native born.
As Bishop Michael Curry said at the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle; “imagine our neighbourhoods and communities when love is the way. Imagine our governments and countries when love is the way. Imagine business and commerce when love is the way. Imagine our world when love is the way.”
Who are the people that you find it most difficult to love? Are they, your next-door neighbour, someone living in your road, asylum seekers, people homeless, members of a particular political party, a particular religious group, – who? Do you see them as part of God’s creation, made in his image?
Where do you see love embracing others in our public life? Where is love absent?
Spend the day reflecting on what these children understand about love.
- "When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth." Billy – age 4.
- "Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen." Bobby – age 7.
- "If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate." Nikka – age 6.
These quotes are from the Daily Good, used with their permission. https://www.dailygood.org/story/158/what-does-love-mean-see-how-4-8-year-old-kids-describe-love-ladan-lashkari/
Remember, whoever you are, whatever you are, God loves you.
