LOVE Lent 29

Scripture

Finally, brothers and sisters, farewell. Put things in order, listen to my appeal, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints greet you.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.

2 Corinthians 13.11-13

Reflection

At the end of a letter which has offered some fierce pastoral advice, and criticism of the community, Paul is keen to bring the hearts of the earlier believers in Corinth back to the core of Christ's message - namely love. He uses a formula that has become known as "The Grace" and is used in many of the liturgies that the Anglican Church offers: The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the Communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

These three aspects of love are all restating the same thing - Firstly, Grace is unlimited, unmerited, and freely given love; Secondly, love is love, though by linking it to the first person of trinity this is creative, dynamic love; and thirdly, Communion is love expressed in being linked to one another intimately, loving together. 

So in the end Paul is just saying (as the Beatles did a while later) "Love, Love, Love." 

May we all know this love and be immersed in the infinit, creative, connecting love of the Divine. 

Prayer

Cundiff Blessing

Based on 2 Corinthians 13: 11-13

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, our savior and friend;

May the love of God, binding us together and building us up;

May the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, knitting us together as a church family;

Be with us until we meet again.  Amen.

From the Rev Tom Cundiff's blog