Learning What Love Is

See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are. ((I John 3:1a))

I grew up in the era of television personality Art Linkletter. I still have two of his books: "Kids Say the Darndest Things!" and "Kids Still Say the Darndest Things!". Those books emerged from a popular segment of his live television show in which he would ask questions of elementary-aged children. The children's responses were totally honest, often poignant, and generally amusing, if not hilarious, (and sometimes horrifying to their parents listening in the audience).

These days similar pearls of honesty and humor circulate from time to time on the internet, such as these emailed to us by a friend last spring:

A group of professional people posed this question to a group of 4 to 8 year-olds: "What is love?"

• "Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs." Chrissy – age 6.
• "When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn’t bend over and paint her toenails anymore…so my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis, too. That’s love." Rebecca – age 8.
• "Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken." Elaine – age 5.
• "Love is what makes you smile when you’re tired." Terri – age 6.

Sharing, self-giving for the other, remembering that you are loved even when you are tired &ndash all of these are part of the wonderful design that is love.

But life grows more and more complicated, and the simple truths about love are not as easily discerned as they were when we were children. This is all the more reason for seeing and listening to the story of love that unfolds in the Gospel, splashes on to our heads, and lands with such gentleness and power in the palms of our outstretched hands. It is God’s first love, most love, and always-able-to-begin-again love...even when life is complicated. We are children of an amazing Father.

God of love, thank you for your first love for us. Please give to us always hearts to know your love, even when we make a mess and life gets complicated. We pray in the name of the One who showed us your heart of love, Jesus our Savior. Amen

Contributed by Bishop Roy Riley
Monday October 12 2015
Liturgical Year B: Week 46
Liturgical Color: Green
Sunday Gospel reading: Proper23
Twentyth Sunday after Pentecost