Beloveds,
Depending upon the translation and researcher lens, the word ‘love’ is used anywhere from 310 to 645 times in the Bible. Researchers often include details on the five different types of love – agape, philia, eros, storge, pragma – as well as God’s love for us and our command to love one another. And then, there are the characteristics of love such as patience, kindness, humility, forgiveness, etc. And then….
Needless to say, love is important. The last words of the Beatles song, The End, are “And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make.”
This Sunday, we continue with the Johannine Farewell Discourse in John 15:9-15, where Jesus’s commandment is “love one another as I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” I look forward to reflecting upon this with you, be it at 1130 Balclutha, Zoom, or Livestream. No better time than this week to bring friends!
Love,
Rev. Michael Cronin
P.S. May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Check in with yourself and loved ones! Love heals.
