Contemplative Christmas

Tuesday, December 17, 2024

Advent: Love, Day 3

Reading:

“…You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind…and you shall love your neighbor as yourself.” [1]

Reflection:

When I consider what it means to be a Christian, a follower of Jesus the Christ, I am led to what it means to love God and others. Indeed, Jesus told his disciples the most important commandment was to love God, followed closely by loving our neighbor as ourselves. That leads me to consider the different forms love takes. Certainly that does not mean we should love all those living in close proximity to us in a romantic way, as we would a spouse or significant other. Nor does it mean we are to love them as we would an infant, being available 24/7 for their every need. On the other hand, it cannot mean loving inanimately, as we might love a book, a landscape, or a television show.

Nevertheless, love takes many forms, and we do ourselves and others a disservice by confusing love with lust, infatuation, or other fleeting emotions. Christian love requires sacrifice and focused attention over whatever amount of time is required to the best of our ability to do so. Everyone in our lives has needs, if only occasionally, for attention, recognition, and company. If we love them as we should, we will sacrifice at least some of our time and resources to help meet their needs, perhaps with a meal, a card, a call, or a visit. Obviously, during times of acute and critical needs, our love draws us to them even more.

Closing Meditation:

Reflect upon someone in your life who could use some of your attention now. What could you do today to help them? What are the barriers to helping them?

Journal the thoughts and feelings that arise.

This daily series, Contemplative Christmas, is replacing my weekly Life Notes until January 6, 2025, when my weekly blog will resume. The thoughts expressed here are mine. To engage with me: ghildenbrand@outlook.com.

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[1] Matthew 22:37,39