Advent 3 ~ Love

 

We are opening our hearts, souls, and whole lives this week to the One who is love incarnate, love in the flesh.  I wonder, who comes to mind when you think about the word, “love”?

Maybe members of your family?

Maybe friends who have become family?

Maybe people at our church?

To take love from being too Hallmark-y, sweet and sugary idealized version of this word, we need people in our lives to embody love.  God’s love is always longing to reside in us and flow through us to others.  Name aloud the people who have showered you with love in the past.

Name aloud the people who show you love in the present.

Name aloud the people you love deeply and dearly ~ those you pray feel the truth of God’s unconditional and unceasing love when s/he/they are with you.

Name aloud people who are hurting you ask God to enfold and hold today with healing love.

 

One of the truths in found in the words of the Carol, the Canticle of the Turning is that love is fierce and faithful in this hymn.  Love is what God is up to in the world.  I want to embrace and embody this holy love, so here is a prayer practice for you.

 

I want you to make a fist with your right hand.  Imagine you are holding the prayers for justice, for the hungry, hurting, homeless, those pushed to the fringes and fray.  Imagine you are holding in your right hand a power that is even greater than fortune or fame.  Place your fisted hand on your heart.  Now place your left hand gently on top of your fist in the shape of a cup.  Your left hand is God holding you while you are holding all that you long to help fix, repair, reconcile, and renew.  Your left hand is God reminding you that the job of Savior is already taken by a baby born weak and poor ~ not pounding a pulpit demanding or decreeing anything.  Your left hand is God reminding you to work with the Holy hovering rather than get so caught up in your way or the highway.  Hold this prayer posture.  Breathe.  Be.  May the One whose love knocks on the door of our life this morning looking for space to reside all year long find you flinging wide open your heart to welcome God with open arms.  Amen.  Amen.