John, the evangelist, writes about love. He teaches us the absolute centrality of love and, most importantly, that God is the source of all love. God is Love.
In the book and movie Little Lord Fauntleroy, the seven-year-old boy goes to live with his very wealthy but selfish and mean grandfather. The little boy did not
see this and idolised his grandfather, saying frequently, “How people must love you! I’ll bet they love you almost as much as I do.” The little boy’s love gradually softens his grandfather’s heart, and he becomes the type of person this grandson thinks him to be. This story teaches us how Jesus’ love for us, directly and through others, can change us and empower us to become the loving people Jesus sees we can be.
God is love. All
love comes from God; we each love with God’s love. Until we receive God’s love directly or through others, it is impossible to love. We can only love God with all our heart, soul and mind when we have received love. God’s love is an invitation to love others. This is about willing the good of the other. It does not necessarily include a fluttery feeling in our chest. Instead, it is about seeing beyond ourselves to the common good and being willing to be part of the movement towards God in
non-violence, forgiveness, compassion and respect.
God is calling us to come as a community, as all of God’s creation, back into divine unity. This means that we all contribute to the movement of love, sometimes being carried by the love of others and sometimes offering the love that carries others. When we fail, we brush ourselves off, get up again and do our bit. Failure is part of the journey. What is essential is to let go of the
failure and to persevere in our mission. Those around us encourage us, as we do them when they are needy. We come from God, and our journey is back to God. Love is the means.
How will I speak and act in love today?
Do I recognise that love is the means?
Reflections by Kath Knowles
