Most of us have lived long enough to know- there’s love and then there’s love. And then, there is Love. We love food and Christmas. But we also love our parents and spouses and friends and kids. We would all have to admit that most of our emotional energy and attention stay tied up in these loves- at least until something happens that rocks our world. All the joy and security, we think in times of disappointment or despair, is just an illusion.
So then there is Love- the definition of love as embodied in God, who was a baby before he was a man. And right now, as the Christian world celebrates Christmas, we remember that in that manger a whole new dimension of love was born. Jesus, a fully divine human who completely redefined love. Finally, God’s plan is revealed, but we still struggle to understand.
But this we know; the love that is embodied in Jesus, Emmanuel, is not an illusion. Through decades, centuries and millennia it has remained faithful, steadfast, and astonishing. It is personal and communal, forgiving and empowering, present and eternal. Through death of spouse, child or friend. Through divorce and betrayal. Through the lonely years. Through the overwhelmed and endlessly busy years.
So, as Toby Mac says, let’s celebrate the birth of love. Even if the loves of our present life have led to heartbreak, exhaustion, or emptiness, let’s celebrate today the love that changed everything for each of us.
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