Do everything in love. (1 Corinthians 16:14)
The fourth Sunday of Advent symbolizes love. Did you realize that we have only one word in the English language to express the emotion of love? We use the word love to describe how we feel about pizza, our families, and our hobbies, among many other things.
The Greek language has at least six distinct words for love. Each of the six words represents a different type of love: philautia, the love of oneself; pragma, the type of love two people show when they’ve been married a long time; storge, the love between parents and children; philia, brotherly love or the love found between friends; eros, romantic love; and agape, the deepest, most abiding type of love.
When we talk about God’s love, we are referring to the last type, agape. This agape love is what God has for us, his children. Jesus coming to earth as a baby in the manger is agape personified. He couldn’t feed or clothe himself, and he had to rely on his earthly parents to meet his basic physical needs as well as his emotional needs. He loved us so much that he was willing to become like us to bridge the gap between us and God. He offered his life as a sacrifice for ours.
As followers of Christ, we are also called to love others with a sacrificial, agape love that puts the needs of others above ourselves. This is not something we can accomplish on our own. Just as Jesus died, we too must die to ourselves: “Then he said to them all: ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me’” (Luke 9:23).
This Christmas season, look to Jesus for an example of how to treat people. Each day, we encounter people who need God’s love. People feel love when they are seen and acknowledged. Instead of rushing by on your way to finish the next errand, slow down and notice those around you. Acknowledge a stranger with a smile. Hold the door for someone. Speak kindly to the frazzled clerk ringing up your purchases.
Even when we don’t feel like it, we can lean on God to help us step outside of our comfort zone to show his love to those we encounter, not just at Christmas but all through the year.
Dear Jesus, thank you for your agape love that led you to give your life for us. Thank you for this gift. Show us how to share your love with others in a way that resonates with them. Amen.