Fourth Sunday After the Epiphany
Old Testament: Jeremiah 1:4-10(17-19)
Epistle: 1 Cor 12:31b-13:13
Gospel: Luke 4:31-44
Grace and Peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, in whom was exemplified the love the One and Only.
As I learned, or perhaps relearned, while sitting in with the confirmation group last Sunday after church, this is a time of year when we are focused on the ministry of Christ, or the growth of his ministry on earth, growth represented by the color green, but,also, Epiphany is the revelation of who Jesus was- the Son of God, being sent from Him who is.
Now, in the Gospel lesson for today, we hear of Jesus driving a demon out of a man. The point I wish to emphasize relates to the revelation of Jesus. That it was with power and authority that he drove the demon out. The people standing around, the witnesses to the event, couldn't help but be amazed. Here was this man, possessed by all accounts, and with words- not a touch, not a prayer- with a command, the demon came out of the man. I am sure that part of what caused word to spread was that this had occurred on the Sabbath, a time when work was not to be done. But, this is addressed later in the scripture, when we are told that Sabbath was created for man, and not man for the Sabbath.
But the ministry of Christ on earth, the shining of the light of life to men in darkness, was just beginning. It was in its infancy. But from the moment it began, from the moment he was born, it was love- the love of God. This was the only command that our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, gave us: "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." (Mat 13:34).
Love. In Love. With Love. By Love.
Love each other. Love your enemies. Love those in need. When I read this passage from Paul, I am reminded, as we all should be, of what qualities and behaviours comprise love- are exhibited when you love; and what becomes of us when we are without it, when we do things without the love of Christ in us. For even with the greatest gifts the Holy Spirit has to offer, without love we are nothing, and our actions gain nothing. But, in love... by using our gifts in love, we can reach others, we can spread the word of the Lord, and let His love be known. If we do everything with love, then you will seed the earth and be fruitful. I am reminded of the greatest commandment from Matthew 22, when Jesus was tested by the Pharisees, being asked which is the greatest commandment in the Law. "Jesus replied: 'Love the Lord God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." It is by loving your neighbor as yourself that we fulfill the first. For it is like the first, it is similar, the same as. Through our belief in Christ, knowing his love, and God's love for us, by loving each other, by loving our neighbors as ourselves, we fulfill the Law. This is why Romans 13:10 says, "Therefore love is fulfillment of the Law."
I have come to understand that love is certainly all the things that Paul describes: "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails." And so when we read this beautiful passage, remember to exemplify these things, but remember also that God exemplifies these things, and they were exemplified to us through Christ. Love never fails. Christ never fails. God never fails. You're salvation never fails.
Love each other. Clothe each other. Feed each other. Shelter each other. With Love. In Love. By Love.
May you be blessed by Him Who Is; May you revel and glory in the forgiveness and eternal life afforded us by His Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Perhaps, just maybe, later this week or early next I will continue by expounding some more on love. Not just forgiving others, earnestly, but by testifying of Christ and sharing him with them.
No comments:
Post a Comment