Ok, so we are talking this evening about “loving.”
These are “yes” and “no” questions – they are not rhetorical! Feel free to answer out loud, if you would like:
Can you love someone without sending them a birthday card?
Can you love someone without having to buy them a birthday gift?
Can you love someone and not include them on your Christmas card list?
Can you love someone and not send them a valentine?
Can you love someone without having to call them weekly?
Can you love someone who may think of themselves as being unlovable?
Can you love someone and not send them flowers?
Can you love someone and not see them – all that often?
Can you love someone and not always like what they think, do or say?
Can you love someone who is a sinner?
Can you love someone who believes differently than you do?
And it goes without saying that “Yes” you can love someone with tattoos and piercings…
You can love someone, even if they ride a Kawasaki instead of a Harley!
I’m not at all sure where this is all headed and going…but apparently we are much more than capable of loving all sorts of people…in all different kinds of situations and ways.
It is possible, even during an election year for Republicans to love Democrats.
Independents may even love both Republicans and Democrats. It is possible! People can love someone on the “other side of the aisle!”
People in “red states” can love people in “blue states.”
It is also possible to love people of different races and ethnic backgrounds.
It is possible to love someone – even though language “is a barrier.”
You do not have to “chat,” “tweet,” “skype,” “face-time,” “email,” or “text” someone to love them.
You don’t even have to “hang out” with them!
It is more than possible to love someone even from a great distance. Which is to say, you do not have to physically be there… You do not have to be right next door. You do not have to be neighbors. You do not have to be on the same continent.
Heck, if the international space station has taught us anything – it is – that you can love someone not even on this planet!
How cool is that? You can love someone floating “up there” – or “over there” or “somewhere” – in space!
It is possible to love someone without having seen them yet…like that new
“grandchild” in Delaware.
You can love someone – even if you can no longer “hear” or “see” them.
You can love someone before they are born…and you can love someone long after they die.
If you think about it – this whole idea of love and loving someone is amazing!
In our Gospel text for tonight, Jesus says, “Love one another.”
Then he goes on…and adds, “As I have loved you.”
Love is amazing.
Love can be limitless, there is an ever – abundant supply. It is a natural resource that is not waning.
As far as I can tell, Jesus didn’t put any restrictions on “love and loving.” If restrictions come from any place – they come from us!
To me, that smacks of judgment.
Judging others…
We want to decide “who is” and “who is not”- “worthy” of our love.
What does it take for someone to be “worthy” of our love?
What do they have to do?
What “hoops” do they have to jump through – to prove their “worthiness?”
Again, when did we become judge and jury?
Who gave us “the final say?”
As far as I know, Jesus said, “Love one another as I have loved you.”
No conditions were ever laid thereon. So I asked the children in Sunday School last week what it means…and they said, “Love means love, just love another.” Period.
So, why is it so easy when you are younger and so much more difficult when you are older?
Just love one another, period!