Praise be Jesus Christ, forever and ever.
Happy
Sunday and Happy Valentine’s Day; on this day most of the world celebrates
love, it is a great day for us to celebrate God’s love for us and our love for
each other.
Sometimes,
with love we have to do hard things.
My
two year old grandson is a handful. In fact, we got two calls from the daycare
this week asking us to come and resolve some issues. He’s not bad; but, he is a
daredevil. Because of the weather, he and a roomful of two year olds have been
cooped up inside for some time.
We
are told he is the ringleader. He runs, He roars like a dinosaur. He climbs on
tables and dances, and the rest of the children follow him. The problem is the teachers
cannot catch him to stop him.
The
first time, his mother went to the school and gave him a warning. That warning
was the next time poppy is coming. I told him the next morning if the school
called again, I would have to punish him. Two hours later….
He
was good the rest of the week.
No
matter how rambunctious, I love him with all my heart. Each of my grandchildren - Liam, Carson, and
Scarlett – through the grace and glory of God have different and unique. I love
them with all my heart.
Friends,
look at family friends, and think about the love that you have for them. Which
one could you choose not to love?
If
we truly imitate Christ, then we should love our neighbors as well.
God
doesn’t just choose some of us to love. God cannot - not love us.
Strong
is his love for us; He is faithful forever. (Ps 117:2) You are precious in my sight and I love you.
(Is 43)
That
is the story behind the Gospel today. A leper came to Jesus and begged to be
healed. Jesus was moved with pity, stretched out his hand and touched him and
said “be made clean.”
Jesus’
entire life here on earth was about God’s love for us.
God’s
love includes everyone. God welcomes all who approach him. He reaches out to
touch all of us. He touches us all made unclean by sin. He reaches out to us when
no one else will come near us
He
reaches out to the sick, the poor, the hungry, the homeless, the imprisoned, the
naked, the elderly, the addict, the sinner, and the lost. All of us are in one
of those categories.
God
doesn’t care who has passed judgement on you.
He
lovingly stretches out his hand ignoring the blotches, scabs, and pustules of
sin that scar us. He doesn’t see race or sexuality or gender or sinfulness. He doesn’t
care if clothes are rent and dirty. He doesn’t see the unclean or those gone
astray. All of us are in one of those categories.
God
looks at us and sees the ones He loves. The LORD knows each of us “I have
called you by name and you are mine.” He tells all of us “I love you”
He
tells us that in Jesus Christ, the greatest gift of love ever given to us.
The
problem is humanity exists in this delicate balance of freedom which allows us
to accept that God loves us or deny it. It is the balance of what we are given
and the life choices we make: a choice to give glory to God or to deny Him.
By
giving glory to God, we show how we love Him.
Giving
glory to God is the choices we make. Giving glory to God is our relationship
with others. Giving glory to God is how we help others. Giving glory to God is
living our faith expressed by our love.
This
is how St. Paul imitated Christ. We must do the same. We must see others as
Christ does.
Sometimes
for love we have to do hard things. One of the hardest things is ignoring what
this world has turned into a new leprosy, the differences that make us who we are
and give glory to God for each other. God loves all of us.
On
this day and every day we should celebrate love, God’s love for us and our love
for each other. Be good, be holy and preach the gospel by the way you live your
life and love one another. Amen
Praise
be Jesus Christ, forever and ever. Amen.
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