Devotion for W/C 29th March 2020

A new commandment I give unto you,
That you love one another as I have loved you.
That you love one another as I have loved you.
By this the world shall know that you are my disciples,
If you have love, one for another.
By this the world shall know that you are my disciples,
If you have love, one for another.
Anonymous


These are familiar words in one of or late 20th century worship songs; words first spoken by Jesus as he met with his disciples for their final meal together before his betrayal, crucifixion and resurrection.  Jesus said, “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another.  Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.  By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Elsewhere Jesus said, “Love your neighbour as you love yourself.”

These words are prominent in Lent especially, not because they are any more important but because they are part of our Lent Holy Communion Liturgy in the Methodist Church.  We had been saying them until the decision to suspend corporate worship in church for the foreseeable future.

When thinking about love, we also remember Paul’s eloquent treatise on love in 1 Corinthians: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.   Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.   It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  Love never fails.”

Love is at the very heart of our Christian faith.  It was out of love that God came to us in Jesus.  It was out of love that Jesus went to the cross.  It was out of love that Jesus spoke those wonderful
words, “Father, forgive them.  They don’t know what they are doing.”  It was out of love that Jesus was resurrected from death.

Jesus lived a life of self-giving love.  That same love should be the mark of every Christian disciple.

So what does love look like at the moment when we are, basically, confined to our homes?

Love is staying at home so that we don’t help spread the Covid-19 Coronavirus.  Love is only going out for exercise and keeping the appropriate distance from others: or only going out for essential supplies, and that as little as possible.  Love is phoning vulnerable neighbours and members of our churches to make sure they are OK and have everything they need.  Love is sending emails to people or chatting with them over the internet, either through video or text.

Love is the church continuing to serve in the community its located in.

How are we showing this Christian love in the present circumstances?  What are we doing to continue to express the love of Christ in our world?