Word to the Wise
Tuesday, January 8, 2019 - Tuesday after Epiphany, or Jan. 8
[1 John 4:7-10 and Mark 6:34-44]TUESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2019 CHRISTMAS WEEKDAY [Tuesday after Epiphany] [1 John 4:7-10 and Mark 6:34-44] Beloved, let us Iove one another, because love is of God; everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God. Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love. In this way the love of God was revealed to us: God sent his only-begotten son into the world so that we might have life through him. [1 John] Many are the occasions when I have observed a plaque or framed piece of needlework in a home with the words, “God is love!” That is completely true, but for our purposes, the statement is incomplete. The passage today from the First Letter of John tells us that we must love one another BECAUSE God is love and that God has shown this love by “sending his only-begotten Son into the world.” In short, God “put skin on”love. That is one of the most important reasons for paying attention to that manger scene that we so quickly dismantle and put away because “Christmas is over.” If we put skin on love, Christmas happens every day! One way to appreciate this is to sit down and write out or at least think about all those we know whom we can be sure that they love us. Yes, there may be “degrees” of closeness in this, but there is more than sentimental affection involved here. These are the people on whom we could rely in time of need. When we experience this kind of love, we know the love of God. True friendship is the revelation of God’s love, which is why I am so grateful for the friends whom God has introduced into my own life. Without them, I could never preach about God’s love for us. The liturgical season of Christmas/Epiphany is simply a time to remember how God has put skin on love and has given us the means to do the same. AMEN