For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son. (John 3:16)

More Than Feelings

Out of all the Sundays of Advent the last one is my favorite, for it focuses on the main reason that Jesus came to earth. He did not come like some demigod in the annals of mythology, and He was not the result of a tryst between divine and mortal beings. Furthermore, He was not just sent for God to receive glory. Christ incarnated Himself in human flesh and came because of love.

Love is a steadfast commitment to the well-being of others.

Contrary to popular belief, love is not feeling. Rather it is, as Cornel West often says, being dedicated to something. It is dedication to the good of those around you, and in Christianity it is not momentary and goes beyond those that we deem worthy. Love, like marriage, is a continuous life-long commitment that extends to all persons no matter where they stand. They can be close relatives and friends that we deeply cherish, or strangers with no connection to us and enemies seeking our downfall.

Love is a way of life that is meant for every moment, and rejects partiality for the sake of all people.

More Than Words

In addition to a feeling, love is not just words. It is something that must be expressed through visible ways that are tangible. To be clear, words are important and a way of showing love, but actions make it more than a dream or a nice idea that is comforting. For example, throughout these Advent reflections I have mentioned my daughter Hope, and what got me through her death was works of compassion from others. People did more than talk to show a commitment to my well-being. They went beyond words through visits, meals, walks, phone calls, and sending cards.

 Love unexpressed is meaningless.

St. James writes in his Epistle that faith without works is dead, and the same is true for love that is void of action. I would even go as far to say that love without action is not love at all. In fact, it is a selfish lovelessness that leaves things the same. As St. James asks, what good is it to say, “be fed” without feeding the hungry? Or what benefit is to say “keep warm” without clothing and housing the cold?

Love seeks to be made real through actions done with a selfless heart. A heart that beats for the sake of others and wants things to change for their good.

More Than Expected

In Louisiana, my home state, there is a tradition called lagniappe, which comes from an old Spanish term that means something free or extra. Lagniappe is a small gift that is given to a customer by a merchant as a way of showing gratitude for supporting their business. In short, one could say that it means “a little extra” or “going beyond what is expected”. And the same is true for love, which surpasses our expectations.

During Advent we celebrate this dimension of love, where God excels our wildest dreams through sending His one and only Son. We expect forgiveness of sin, but in Christ there is a plethora of blessed gifts. Through Him we also receive peace, hope, joy, grace, mercy, truth, and endless life. Do we deserve these things? Of course not, and we never will. But, as was said earlier, love is for and about all people no matter where they stand.

Indeed, God has given us more than we expect through Jesus, and His generosity is rooted in more than receiving glory. Though His glory is important, His generosity is rooted in His love, which began long before Israel and the manger in Bethlehem. St. Paul writes that God loved us before the foundation of the world. He has been committed to our well-being since the moment before He said, “Let there be light”. And this commitment is at the heart of Advent traditions, from the candles, prayers, and calendars to the carols and hymns of wonder.

Love is the first gift that God gave to humanity. Therefore, let us be like Him and freely give it to all people.

The images featured in this post are by Scotty J. Williams.