Transformed through love
In our everyday life, we see attitudes to others sparking emotions such as distrust, “cancel culture” and the desire for annihilation of others who are different from us. This is reflected in stories we hear about relationships gone bad, situations turned sour, and the echo chamber of social media enhancing radical/reactionary viewpoints, which are underlaid by our human feelings towards others.
Jesus – a fully human embodiment of God into our world – experienced feelings just as we do. He grieved at the death of Lazarus, was angry at the temple money changers, despaired in the Garden of Gethsemane, and rejoiced about finding the lost penny and lost sheep. Feelings matter! Can you think of a time when someone has said something negative to you and how that felt?
As we reflect, Paul talks about the power of love, as we mature in love for each other and for ourselves. He says: serve one another humbly in love (Galatians 5:13b), echoing Jesus’ greatest commandment, Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: “Love your neighbour as yourself” (Matthew 22:37–39) where Jesus has come to fulfil and not abolish the law (Matthew 5:17,18).
Love heads up Paul’s long list of the aspirational fruits of the spirit (Galatians 5:22,23), reminding us to live in the body through faith and love (Galatians 2:20). Paul also exhorts us to love our neighbour and to live and walk in the Spirit with love (Galatians 5:14–25). As you reflect, have you had times when a positive word of encouragement or love has made a big difference in your life?
Paul asks us to transform ourselves using love – to accept those different from ourselves, and to work together using the fruit of the spirit, no longer noticing the differences between us because we are all one in Jesus Christ. As we go through our day, we can allow hymns/songs such as May we be one and Love divine, all loves excelling hum through our being, reminding us of God’s love flowing through us into our community as we reach out to others.
Prayer: Dear Lord, sometimes the love we show to others is much less than what you ask of us. Help us to spread your love, not only to those who are lovable, but also to those who lash out at us through pain or anger, disappointment or loss. Fill us, so that we may love others as Christ loves us, creating a channel of your love spreading to those we meet in everyday life. In your love we pray, Amen.
About the Author
