On this Valentines Day and the First Sunday of Lent, I ask that we remember not only the importance of Romantic Love; but of Divine Love, the Love of a friend or sibling, LovingKindness, Self Love, and the many other kinds of love out there.There are many out there who celebrate and remember the romantic aspects of Valentines Day – of marriage proposals and weddings, of building family. But, there are many, many people for whom this day carries a tinge of sadness, such as…
The sadness of waking up on this day in your bed alone, knowing that the love of your life who slept next to you faithfully for so long is now gone forever.
The sadness of losing a parent or friend, especially those who have lost a close friend or relative at around this time of year, as just happened to the family and friends of Justice Antonin Scalia.
The sadness of never having found a life partner to begin with or the sadness of not even being able to love oneself.
Love and compassion are closely linked. One cannot love another without having compassion for them when, they are going through losses or tough times. One cannot be a person of faith without enacting the Love that our Creator has placed within us. One cannot love unless one has learned how to be loved.
So, on this day, Love as St. Valentine and Jesus and so many other great other women and men of great faith have taught us: Love one another as God loves You, and Love your neighbor as you would have them love you.
So today I ask that you share not just the joys of romantic love, but the sadness that is within all of us, show your love by reaching out to them, helping to share the burden that they carry hidden in their heart, even if only for a little while; because, walking with another through their sadness and hard times is central to what our faith is all about.
Amen.
Copyright (c) 2016, Allen Vander Meulen III, all rights reserved. I’m happy to share my writings with you, as long as you are not seeking (or getting) financial benefit for doing so, and as long as proper credit for my authorship is given (via mention of my name on your site, or a link back to this site).
The Here and the Hereafter 