Advent is upon us, the season of preparation and anticipation of the arrival of the King; Emmanual, God with us. The traditional theme of the fourth Sunday in Advent is ‘Love.’
Love is the most powerful force in the universe. Or so Hollywood tells us. Love conquers all. Love is a many splendored thing. But what love is that? I love your shoes, but I also love my wife. I really love tacos, but I also love my children. I love my dog, and I love books, and I really love the way you did that thing. What does it all mean?
The good folks at the Bible Project explain it this way:
“Love is often seen as a force beyond our control, something people fall in or out of. Or it may seem like something satisfying that we can achieve, driving us to chase affection through relationships or status. “Love is all you need,” they say, because it’s the path to self-fulfillment.
But something is missing from that picture of love. The Bible invites us to see a kind of love that’s neither accidental nor driven by desire for self-fulfillment. Instead, it involves a steady commitment to care for the well-being of others – never self-seeking, always self-giving – even when it costs us.
Jesus shows this kind of love when he gives his life for friends and enemies alike. Dying on a cross, with his killers still laughing at him, Jesus cares for their well-being as he prays for their forgiveness (Luke 23:34). Living with this kind of love does not mean ignoring our own needs or devaluing ourselves. After all, Jesus says to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Matt. 22:39). But it means choosing to see all people as living miracles of God, each made in God’s image and deeply loved by him.
The Advent season leads us to reflect on the future God is bringing, where every interaction will be shaped and compelled by love. Even more, it invites us to live into that coming world right now by loving others the way Jesus does. As we give of ourselves in order to care for both friends and enemies, we demonstrate the love that Jesus shows to all people.”
Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, soul, mind and strength; and love your neighbors as yourself. Two sides of the same coin, inseparable. But who are my neighbors? Well, that would be everybody. Even the people you don’t particularly like, and who probably don’t like you. We’re all made in the image of God, all sinners in need of a savior, and all worthy of Jesus’ sacrifice.
Love arrived in a manger, prepared to die for you. Maybe that seems crazy to you, maybe you feel unworthy. It’s not, and you’re not. May we all accept that Love, freely given, and then turn around and give it away, just as freely.
P.A. Tennant – Advent, 2025
Soli Deo Gloria
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Video: The Bible Project: https://bibleproject.com/videos/agape-love/
Copyright 2025 Paul A. Tennant
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Website: https://patennant.com/
P.A. Tennant 