Love is enough

The LORD bless you and keep you!  The LORD let his face shine upon you and be gracious to you!  The LORD look upon you kindly and give you peace!

Back more years than I care to remember, there was a popular song by the Beatles that said, "All you need is love." But the “love” that John, Paul, George and Ringo were singing about was more of a love borne of relativism, than one of Truth.  Some two thousand years ago, John, the disciple that Jesus loved, was also saying that all we need is love.

After the death of the emperor who had banished him to the Isle of Patmos, the Apostle John returned to Ephesus where he lived to a very old age.  No longer able to walk, he was carried into the congregation in the arms of his disciples.  He had gotten to where he couldn't speak for any length of time, but they always asked him to say something.  His homily was the same every time: "Little children, love one another."  At last, wearied that he always spoke the same words, they asked: "Master, why do you always say this?"  "Because," he replied, "it is the Lord's command, and if this only is done, it is enough."

Love is the bond that allows us to interact with each other, whether in the workplace, at home, or among friends.  It is also this sacred connection that allows us to be intimate and to understand our Creator (as much as our finite minds can understand Him).  And in the same way, just as God wants to continuously remind us that we are truly and uniquely loved by Him, we must also practice this same value with each other.

We are not measured by how much we do for one another, but by God’s grace.  I suggest we practice the same love we are given by God with our brothers and sisters (1 John 4:7-10). Whether it is saying 'hi' to an old friend, getting to know your boss a little better, or striking up a conversation with a co-worker that you see sitting by him or herself at lunch, let people know that they are loved.  And just as Jesus fed over five thousand people with only five loaves of bread and two fish, let’s practice giving to those in need, spiritually or emotionally. In addition to giving that dollar to the person in need on the street, ask if you can pray for him or her.  We may be imperfect and flawed, but we will always, in every moment, be truly loved by the One who knows all things.