Wednesday, February 14, 2018 

“No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends.” (John 15:13) 

                It is the first time since 1945 that Valentine’s Day and Ash Wednesday have had the same date.

                One website asked the question  can one be a believer and still celebrate the day with champagne and chocolate.  At first glance it may seem somewhat contradictory – the light and romantic side of Valentine’s Day in contrast to the serious, more somber atmosphere of Ash Wednesday and Lent. Of course, secularists and other types of believers and non-believers could care less.

Well, I have always struggled with the idea that Lent has been somewhat trivialized by the tradition of having to give something up like chocolate, coffee, smoking, or some other indulgence or personal habit, even though it, sort of, pertains loosely to some superficial understanding of the idea of sacrifice that is linked to the remembrance of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. But barely!

                Perhaps, at best, the fact that Lent is beginning, and it may help to inspire someone to forfeit some unhealthy practice, addiction or habit and that would be good indeed. Perhaps, I need to give up being so picky.

                But I have no problem connecting Valentine’s Day with Ash Wednesday and Lent whatsoever. Indeed, it seems a natural fit in light of the scripture verse quoted above from John’s Gospel.

                Love is at the core of Lent.

                Jesus is embracing the precious last few hours with his friends. He has so much he wants to say to them, to tell them, to show them. And so little time.

                Does this rag tag outfit of disciples get anything he has been saying, teaching or doing? What will happen when he is arrested and crucified as he knew he would be? Is he leaving them equipped enough to deal with all that is ahead? Do they understand his mission and the tasks that he is leaving behind for them to accomplish? Do they understand the Love that he has for them, the compassion for their hearts and souls, the caring concern for their well-being?

                Every word he speaks to his followers at the Last Supper here in John’s Gospel exudes his love, his encouragement, his deep-felt protective feelings towards them, his reassurances, his prayers for them, his gift of Spirit to help them cope in the days ahead. And if this is not Love, I don’t know what is.

                Beyond all the theories of atonement represented buy this supreme, personal sacrifice of Love i.e. to die for one’s friends, is the supreme gift of Love that comes with following him.  “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” (John 14:34) Or as he said when he submissively washed his disciples’ feet, “For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you.” (John 13:15)

                Surely, anyone can understand that it is this holy and sacred style of Love that we should be bringing into our marriages, our families, our communities, our churches, our workplaces, our pulpits, our ethics, until it permeates our very character.  Loving is not always easy or convenient and not without its trials and tribulations, but it always the best we ought to try to do. Even enemies, Jesus says, deserve our Love.

                So, if you need to knock back a little champagne and nibble on some chocolate or nibble on your partner’s ear, for that matter, go for it!

It is the Season for Loving. As Jesus would say, “Go and do likewise!”

Dale